Cork doesn't want to waste European opportunity

Burnley earned a spot in this season’s Europa League by recording the club’s best finish since 1974, finishing seventh in the Premier League.

The midfielder isn’t overlooking third qualifying round opponents Aberdeen, who they take on in the first leg at Pittodrie on July 26th.

But he believes that reaching the group stages would be a marker of success: “The focus is on the European games, to try and get a few wins in that and try to get to the group stage. That would probably be a big target.

“We have given ourselves the opportunity and I think it would be a shame to waste it.

“We just have to focus on the Aberdeen game first.

“That’s not going to be an easy game at all. They are a good team.”

Should the Clarets get that far they’d face a minimum 12 extra games next term, with six of those ties in the qualifying phase played before August has expired.

The England international was one of only five outfield players across the top flight to play every minute in the Premier League, and he’s welcoming another hectic campaign.

“Hopefully it will be busy,” said Cork. “We’d like to get as far in the European competition as possible.

“It will be a bit strange maybe being a few games into the season before actually starting the (Premier League) season so it will be interesting to see how everyone deals with that.

“But we’ve got a fit squad and hopefully we’ll do well. We want to do what we did last year, try and get off to a good start.”

And Cork confirmed that the squad won’t be losing perspective.

The objective, as always, will be to preserve the club’s status in England’s top tier: “From what I’ve seen before in the Premier League it’s never an easy season. For us, it will always be staying in this league and competing in this league.”