Dyche taking nothing for granted in the top flight

Burnley are in pole position to finish the '˜best of the rest' in the Premier League.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche 

Photographer Rich Linley/CameraSport

The Premier League - Burnley v Leicester City - Saturday 14th April 2018 - Turf Moor - Burnley

World Copyright © 2018 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.comBurnley manager Sean Dyche 

Photographer Rich Linley/CameraSport

The Premier League - Burnley v Leicester City - Saturday 14th April 2018 - Turf Moor - Burnley

World Copyright © 2018 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.com
Burnley manager Sean Dyche Photographer Rich Linley/CameraSport The Premier League - Burnley v Leicester City - Saturday 14th April 2018 - Turf Moor - Burnley World Copyright © 2018 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

But Clarets boss Sean Dyche insists only the ‘big six’, including Thursday night’s visitors to Turf Moor, Chelsea, can be assured of their Premier League place from season to season.

Burnley are seventh, nine points clear of Leicester City in eighth, after their 2-1 win over the Foxes on Saturday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And seventh place will bring European football for the first time in over half a century, providing any of the remaining four teams in the FA Cup, other than Southampton, lift the trophy next month.

Burnley are continuing to develop and grow on and off the pitch, but improving on this season – the club’s best campaign since 1975 currently – will be a tough ask.

Dyche said: “On an ongoing basis, everything is a challenge for us.

“I don’t think we will be in a position, I will be surprised, if this club can grow into a position where it is not.

“Because there is a reality to clubs like Burnley.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It is unlikely it can get so powerful, financially, where you become one of the top six, which probably all of us think are going to be in the top six or around, certainly not in relegation trouble.

“Highly improbable they are in relegation trouble for however many years – whereas the rest, as we have seen this year, with some very good clubs looking in real trouble, it is very difficult.

“Are we moving forward? Yes. Can the club move forward and build? Yes, it already is doing.

“Can you just take it for granted? Absolutely not. Nothing is to be taken for granted here.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Proof of Burnley’s growth is there for all to see, but, among the most impressive statistics is they have the third-best defensive record in the division, bettered only by the top two, champions Manchester City and Manchester United.

Dyche feels the pressure they were under last season has served them well: “The thing you learn in the Premier League is you are going to have to do that at times (defend), particularly away, and that goes give you practice.

“We had it a lot last season, we only won one away game, and that does form a way of working that builds resilience.

“When I signed Tom Heaton it was heavily questioned because he had just been relegated. But my thinking was, if you have been relegated but you are still trying to keep the ball out of the net, as he was, then that is an amazing thing because you can go under with that sort of stuff, but he wasn’t that sort of character, which is why I signed him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“You can learn a lot from that, tough times like that. If it is paying back for all the work in the past and how the players have experienced and learnt from that, then that’s fantastic.

“I am not saying it is just that but that has to be something that, as you mature as a player, you add into your armoury, you learn how to deal with these situations and almost respect the game, not go under with it.”