
Ninety points, twenty-six wins, twelve draws, two losses, and the cherry at the top of the cake – Premier League promotion, all as of match day 40. At the beginning of the Championship season in June 2022, when the sudden announcement of rookie Anderlecht manager – Vincent Kompany was made, all these seemed a dream beyond the wildest imaginations of any Claret supporter.

His appointment was met with mixed reactions by the fans and their anxiety was heightened due to a slow start to the season- winning just six of his first 15 league games. Amazingly, a change in fortune has seen the newly promoted side drop just nine points since this torrid run.
The 4-2 away victory against Sunderland in October 2022, at the Stadium of Light for Vincent Kompany – who was gradually becoming the subject of scrutiny, marked the turning point for the Lancashire team. By October 25th the Clarets had reached the top of the table, and from there they never looked back.
A run of 25 games ramping up 20 victories, 4 draws, and just 1 defeat was all that was needed for the Belgian legend to be tipped as one of the best managers in Championship football history. His Burnley side, scoring an average of 2.0 goals per game and conceding a lowly 0.8, including 17 clean sheets, are just 6 wins away from becoming the most dominant Championship side ever witnessed.

How did a once defensive team managed by Sean Dyche transform into an attacking beast in the EFL Championship? What must have been the recipe for this feat Vincent Kompany and Burnley have achieved?
Taking an ardent look at the events that unfolded and the early success Vincent Kompany has experienced so far, we pegged his achievement to three major factors;
MAJOR SQUAD REBUILD
Inspired by his former coach Pep Guardiola, Kompany’s initial task for Burnley was to set out a clear rebuild. One which would bring about reinvention, in terms of personnel and style of play. Nick Pope, Nathan Collins, Dwight McNeil, and Maxwel Cornet were all shown the exit door, for various reasons including finance for the proposed restructure. Other key figures from Sean Dyche’s team such as club captain Ben Mee and James Tarkowski moved on without any compensation for Burnley. A total of 16 players were recruited by Kompany in the summer, five of those on loan, as the new boss set out to drastically reduce the average age of the squad, intending to generate a youthful, vibrant, competitive and ambitious culture. His blueprint worked, even if a pocket of supporters initially needed more convincing than others.
TACTICS AND STYLE OF PLAY
Just as he did when he took over affairs at Anderlecht, Kompany adopted and implemented tactics that he learnt under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Under him, Anderlecht played a four-man backline in which fullbacks were instructed to stretch to the wings to create overloads. To ensure that the team has numerical superiority, Kompany opted for a two-man midfield, one of which dropped down to defence when out of possession.
Further up the pitch, the team used high press, quick passing to overwhelm the opposition quickly and consistent front-line pressure to win the ball back promptly. In the defensive third, Kompany used man-to-man marking to block the passing lanes of the opposition.

The club has spent considerable money in the summer transfer window to ensure a quick promotion to the Premier League.
Using these players, Kompany has created a system that stresses using the wings and inside channels to conduct their attacks. The team’s defenders are also encouraged to go for long balls, a notable adjustment Kompany made from the set-piece-orientated style Burnley are renowned for. It is one of the reasons why defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis averages 6.7 accurate long balls per 90 minutes, the second-best for any player in the league.
Burnley have also become a pass-oriented side averaging 467.2 passes per 90 minutes, the second-best for a team in the league. The presence of flair and technically gifted players in the likes of Nathan Tella, Benson Manuel and Anass Zaroury has also contributed to building a new identity for Burnley, now renowned for attacking, fast paced and most notably, entertaining football. These tactics have resulted in the Clarets outperforming their xG (expected goals) by over 20 goals this season.

Likewise, Burnley’s front-line press has also translated to success to such a great degree that teams have barely gotten the chance to get near the Clarets’ goal- hence why they have currently conceded the fewest goals in the league (30).
BLENDING TALENT AND EXPERIENCE
Since taking the reins at Burnley, Kompany and his coaching staff have been able to unearth some hidden gems from scouting missions across the continent, with Manuel Benson, Anass Zaroury, and Jordan Beyer all excelling since their arrivals. He has also extended his reach to his former club Anderlecht and signed a couple of players he previously worked with including midfielder Josh Cullen, and the aforementioned defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, on loan from Man City.
He’s also taken a chance on a couple of youngsters desperate to enhance their own development, such as Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen and Southampton’s Nathan Tella – the club’s leading scorer with 19 goals in all competitions. Despite the influx of new players/talent, Kompany has been intentional with retaining Burnley ‘old guard’ in the likes of Ashley Barnes, Jay Rodriguez, Josh Brownhill and Jack Cork, whose influence on and off the pitch can’t be understated. Their experience in achieving promotion served as a vital tool to guiding the young players to the promised land.

The leading contender for the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Year award has managed to catch lightning in a bottle-at the very first attempt. Burnley are unbeaten at Turf Moor in all competitions, scoring in all but one of their home games. Whilst the celebrations can commence, Kompany will have his eye on securing the title (needing just 11 points from their last 7 games), and furthermore breaking the 100-point barrier (not done since Leicester City in 2013-2014) come the end of the season.


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