ALAN PACE: 'There's a great amount of anticipation.
Great amount of excitement,
anxiety, all kind of bundled up in knowing that you're so close.
There's a need to step back.
Reflect...
..and lock arms with those around me, to go at it again.'
(TITLE THEME)
* I *
* I need you *
* I won't give up *
* I won't give up. *
(CHEERING)
(MUSIC ENDS)
COMMENTATOR: 'That's it. Burnley have put up a good fight
and they showcased the football that has propelled them
to the top of the Championship by a distance.
But in the end, the gulf in class was too much.
And Vincent Kompany will collect his thoughts
and reflect on the lessons that his team have learnt tonight.
It's finished, Manchester City 6, Burnley 0.'
Yes, boys.
I want to see your heads up. We've got to take the pain.
Don't let this affect anything you've done so far this season.
Your goal one day is to get to this level.
You know now today what this level is.
You don't have time to rest. You've got the lesson.
You get better every day. Next time will be a different game.
Next time will be a different game. OK, boys? Trust me.
Because I know the work you put in every single day.
And that's what matters to me.
We'll go on to the next one and win the next round of games.
OK, boys? And get ourselves into the Premier League.
-Well done. -(APPLAUSE)
(FANS CHANTING) Vincent Kompany! City...
ASHLYN: This kind of looks like Connecticut.
Yeah. It's very cold, very nice.
Very sunny, winter.
Nice!
It is so pretty.
But seriously, how lucky are we to live here?
I mean, I love this.
You know, this is the area that
Gary, Alan's dad, served his mission in.
He lived here and he loved everything about this place.
And so, I wish... Ah! I wish she was here to...
-He would love it. -To enjoy it with us.
And how much he would have loved being at a game with us and,
you know, just being here and walking around.
We're a very religious family and we put a lot of faith
in knowing that, you know, God knows what's going to happen.
And we have to trust that.
Being able to kind of get his take on things,
it's like a superpower!
Daddy, do you think that Grandpa would like coming over here
and seeing all the Burnley stuff?
Yeah, he would.
'ASHLYN: From a faith standpoint,
I would say that God has a plan.
I think Burnley and Vincent and everything was on the cards.
Even if we couldn't see it back when relegation happened,
and even when Sean Dyche was being let go...'
um, we had to have faith that something greater was coming
and something greater was absolutely coming.
PUNDIT: 'Burnley have been wonderful
under Vincent Kompany this season.'
PUNDIT 2: 'What's been so impressive is the style of football,
how he's created it.'
'It is 14 clear of Sheffield United, 17 clear of Middlesbrough.
It's just surely a matter of time.'
(CHATTER)
VINCENT: All right, boys.
The key part for me is for you to understand what's coming now.
Then you can see we have Middlesbrough, two days,
Sheffield, a little bit of a break, Monday.
Saturday, Reading. Tuesday, Rotherham. Saturday, QPR.
Blackburn on Tuesday.
There's a scenario in which...
..in three games time here, you're promoted.
Still after this game, you have every single game afterwards
where you still have to play to win the league.
There's also another scenario, which it takes you
to the last game of the season to be promoted.
It's football. You don't know.
But I hope what we take from the City game
is that we're nowhere yet.
Yeah? And I want the team to use this game,
this game, this game... Until the last minute
of the last game of the season, you are fully involved.
Yeah? I don't want to see and I won't allow...
..a, a parade of nine games where all of a sudden,
we drop our standards. If anything, I want to raise the standards.
If you take it the right way, you'll play your best football,
believe it or not. These are the ones where you make memories
for life, but approach in the right way. That's the only plea
I have for these games. Right, let's go.
(CROWD CHANTING)
VINCENT: 'The laws of the game remain the same, right?
The pitch is a certain size.
The number of players are the same.
I don't complicate it much more than that.
It's still the same solutions you're trying to find.
And then, you know that on any given day...
..anything's possible in football.'
(PLAYERS SHOUTING)
'I don't think there's ever a moment where there's complacency
in my own character.
My nature is to say things are going really well, you know...
Careful, because tough times are around the corner.
And if things are not going really well,
let's just keep going because good times are around the corner.
It's like a reset button you have to have in your mind.
Every day when I wake up, I see
a world and a place full of opportunities.
The key point for me remains that we have the habits
and standards towards improving.
You come through the door, Burnley Football Club,
every moment, you have to use it as a moment to improve.
And if this environment has that every day,
then it doesn't matter where we're at today.
Tomorrow, we'll be better.'
NEWSREADER: 'A story now. Invites have gone out for the King's Coronation.
It's just a month or so away, and within those invites
are around 850 community heroes.
One of them...'
-MAN: Morning. -Morning, everyone.
(LAUGHTER)
Ready to go.
REPORTER: It's a big weekend ahead.
Middlesbrough away, Sheffield United at home.
'Now, Burnley could be celebrating promotion back to the Premier League tomorrow,
if results go their way. It'll cap a great first season
in charge for Vincent Kompany.'
-One more? -One more? Yeah, of course!
'We can cross over to the club's training ground
and join Peter Stevenson.'
'Yeah, welcome to Burnley. A wonderful Easter weekend
in prospect. The Premier League within touching distance.
They're away to Middlesbrough and home to Sheffield United.'
And they'll hope to clinch a return to the Premier League
in either of those two games. With me, Vincent Kompany, their manager.
What are the emotions at the moment? Because you're so close.
Erm, focus on the games because
they're the two toughest games we could have in the division.
'Sheffield United, Middlesbrough.
It doesn't get tougher than that for us.'
'It's been a wonderful season for you. You're so clear with what, seven games to go.
Could you ever have imagined that at the start of the season?'
'No, we just built the squad that we thought was going to,
you know, was going to get us closer to our goal
over a number of years. But now we are where we are and...'
And we want to finish as strongly as we've been this season.
'And in terms of the players,
how are you keeping their feet on the ground?'
'They've got to get better, no matter which way you look at it.
We're the 21st team in English football,
and when there's 20 teams who are still better than you,
you don't get time to rest.'
Every day we've got on the training pitch is an opportunity for us
to get a little bit closer to the next team.
'Well, have a smashing weekend. Thank you for your time.
Good luck. There you go. So this time last season,
it was all doom and gloom here at Burnley as they fought
against relegation, which was ultimately unsuccessful.
This year, though, the sun is out and promotion not too far away.'
-Thanks again! Have a nice weekend. -Take care, see you.
-Cheers, bye. -Thanks.
-All right, kids? You all right? -Can I have a picture?
-Go on, then. -Thank you.
You're doing a great job at Burnley.
-All right. Take care, bye. -Thank you very much!
(CHATTER)
Boys, the only thing we need to know is this game tomorrow is...
It's pretty simple. If our pressing's good, they are dead.
That's the reality of it. It's a team that...
..doesn't have the capacity to press you in the way
that other teams have this season.
But it's a team that's good on the ball.
But if they don't have the ball
and if they can't have possession,
it's not the same team.
So for us, it's a really important topic here
to get it by and cover a little bit the ideas
of what we want to do in the game tomorrow. Roll, please.
Start of press. Four with the full backs low,
and a two midfield is always there to support.
Full backs low, two sixes in support.
Long switch, full backs ready, aggressive.
Even that, nail him. Fucking nail him, guys!
Do not have any, any type of sympathy for anyone out there.
This is your job, you do your job.
REPORTER: 'It was Good Friday last year that Sean Dyche
was sacked as Burnley manager. Good Friday, 2023,
and Burnley can complete their rise back to the Premier League.
The maths is simple. Win tonight at Middlesbrough,
and Burnley are promoted.'
(CHANTING)
Programmes, £3!
We've got a massive game in store.
'Certainly in Burnley's case, they obviously know,
a really good performance and that three points gets them
over the line. When you're right at that moment, it can get
a little bit edgy and they'll want to get it done as soon as possible.'
Big fucking prize at the end of this today!
Come on! It's not by fucking luck.
It's cos you're a team. Just be who you fuckin' are.
It's all you got to do. Boys! Close the circle, let's go.
Boys. Remember, we started the journey...
..at the very beginning of the season
with a collective of emotions,
feelings, energy, bad energy, good energy, dreams.
You get to the point at the end of the season
where you are there, you are close.
You've dumped all the negative energy and what's left
is the positive fucking energy! You've dumped every single thing
that's standing in the way of yourself, of the team,
and you've just left the best.
Passion, determination, fight for every fucking ball.
You go out there, you think you are fucking alone? You're not.
You've never been alone. Never, Not one step you've done this season,
you've been alone Every step, you've been together.
You go out there, look on your left, look at your right,
and feel strong.
Feel strong because the collective you're fucking bringing
to this place today is fucking stronger than anyone I've ever seen.
Yeah? And when the final whistle blows, it's a fucking signature
on our performance. The final whistle is a fucking signature
on our performance today, boys.
All right? Enjoy the fucking day. Let's go. Come on.
-(OTHERS CHEERING) -Come on! Come on!
Enjoy the football, boys.
(CHANTING) Oh, Super Vincent Kompany!
COMMENTATOR: 'Middlesbrough have been going well.
They're four from the top, but still 17 points behind Burnley.
It's just two defeats in 38 league games for them now.
They've been head and shoulders above the rest this season.
And in the northeast this evening, their fate is in their own hands.'
(WHISTLE BLOWS, CHEERING)
'Gudmundsson.
Goes down the line to Zaroury,
who's unable to keep that under control.
There are gonna be some nerves here for the visitors tonight.
To Zaroury now, who skips past his man.
Lovely play from the Moroccan.
Cullen.
-Brownhill hits it! -(CHEERING)
And it's in! Deflected in by Barnes. Burnley ahead.
It's Ashley Barnes with another Burnley goal.
Tries to play it through, but a good interception by Roberts.
And over the bar it goes. There's a warning for Burnley.
Tella, he's got in behind, he's through here!
Can he finish this, Nathan Tella? Just wide!
Oh, a golden opportunity for Tella. Clean through!
That was a chance for Burnley...'
Come on, big 45 now. Come on!
'Second half underway.
Burnley now just 45 minutes from promotion.
'Boro probing, ball in...
It's dropped to Archer.
And a penalty's been given! Burnley can't quite believe it.
And now, Middlesbrough have the chance
to draw level from the spot.
-It'll be Akpom against Muric.' -(WHISTLE BLOWS)
(CHEERING)
'All square at the Riverside, and all to play for.'
(CHANTING)
'Brownhill with the delivery now, swings it in.
Might fall for Barnes. He can't keep it down.
Burnley slipping under pressure...
Out wide to Tella now. Tries to get to the by-line.
-Puts it in, and Burnley ahead!' -(CHEERING)
'Burnley back on the brink of glory!'
Come on!
'Good turn by McGree, stands it up to the back post.
A header wide. That was a big chance...
Burnley are close, the referee's had another look at his watch.'
-(WHISTLE BLOWS, CHEERING) -'Burnley have done it!
They have bounced back to the Premier League
at the very first time of asking.
They've been best in class by a long, long way.'
(CHEERING CONTINUES)
(CHANTING) We are going home...
-Ah... -Yeah!
(CHANTING CONTINUES)
(WHOOPING)
ALAN: It means the world to us right now.
You know, Vincent's come in and done a phenomenal job.
This team has come together in a way that we could only hope for.
Two to three years was the plan.
And I just think that what you see is a lot of magic coming together.
They're phenomenal, phenomenal.
REPORTER: You said you're ahead of plan.
So, is this a good headache to have or a bad headache?
-For the owner? -I don't know. It depends on what Vincent
comes to tell me about what we need this summer!
I see you've got your hands in your pockets.
If I was you, I'd be keeping them in there.
I'm going to be keeping those as close as I can!
-Whoo! -Where's open tonight, then?
(CHATTER)
(ALL SINGING) * ..keep on turning *
* Proud Mary keep on burning... *
Come on, boys!
* Rollin', rollin... *
* Rollin' on the river... *
Oi, oi, oi, oi!
* Rollin', rollin' *
* Rollin' on the river! *
I can't say how proud I am of all of you guys.
All the guys we signed in January, you're welcome.
-Oba, you're welcome! -(LAUGHTER)
Listen, the biggest thing is you embark on these journeys
and you'll always have these ambitions -
we're going to win something, we're going to do something.
The truth is, you never know. And the truth is,
these moments come very few times.
And all I'm asking you guys to do is to appreciate, appreciate them.
Drink it in in your way. You know, like, appreciate the moment.
And then, when you come into the training ground, do your job still.
That's the only thing I'm asking. Are you ready for the next one?
Cos I don't feel a trophy between our hands at the moment.
We need something to lift at the end of this.
You're promoted, that's something no-one can take away from you ever.
Now we need something to lift.
This is a special moment, you know, for all of you.
-You guys did this! -No!
No, it's not. It has nothing to do with us.
-It's you guys! -No, no, no!
-Stop. -It's you. You know? And you deserve it.
For what you'd done last season. And then obviously, for now,
it's like just for all of us. Us older ones that have been there
from last season, it's nice to help everyone and all the new lads
to enjoy something so special.
So, no, you deserve it.
-Right. See you later. Enjoy it! -Lots more.
-Have a great night, OK? -Thank you.
Thanks for coming, guys. Thanks for making it possible.
Thank you.
How are you?
-All good? -(LAUGHTER)
-"We are Premier League". -Ah! Ah, very nice!
I'll see you a little later.
Hello!
'On the promotion side, it was a big sense of relief.
One hurdle or milestone has been achieved.'
Now we can start to move on to the next thing that we have to do.
You only get to the next stair.
There's still more stairs, I can see 'em.
I can see 'em clearly in my mind.
But we're about to hit a landing.
And so, maybe that's a little breathing space.
We can relax for a second.'
-Congratulations. -Thank you.
Oh, fantastic!
-Hello! Congratulations. -Thank you.
BOY: Come on, Burnley!
Hey, guys. I love the flags!
Trouble makers.
-Alan Pace! -How are you?
Did you ever predict that Burnley will come up in a year?
Um, no.
That would be a lie, if I said that yes. OK? So, no.
No, we didn't we didn't think this would happen this quickly.
We thought it'd take a couple of years,
but we're very happy that it did. Trust me! How are you guys?
All right!
-Alan! -Howdy? Thank you.
Can you fetch a cloth and wipe these tables, please? They're filthy!
-OK. Absolutely filthy! -OK.
-Yes? -I'll see what I can do.
I need a rag to clean a table.
We got a rag somewhere?
So, where did you want me to clean up?
You didn't think I was coming back, did you? No!
Just one second. I'm not quite done with my job yet.
-You are very welcome. OK? -Yeah.
(CHANTING) Come on, Burnley!
COMMENTATOR: 'Down the middle, it's congested.
And it drops kindly for Gudmundsson!'
-(CHEERING) -Yes! Yes!
-'And Gudmundsson! It's two!' -(CHEERING)
'It's Burnley's night at the end.
Win No.26 in a brilliant season under that man.'
REPORTER: 'Now let's turn our attention to Tottenham Hotspur.'
'Vincent Kompany has emerged as a leading contender to be the next Spurs manager.'
'First it was Belgium, then Spurs. Now Chelsea are being linked with a move
for the Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany.'
'That's the problem in football. When your manager starts doing well,
he starts attracting a flood of suitors.'
'Tottenham are a bigger club than Burnley. There's no two ways about that.'
'He would be mad leaving Burnley in the near future, because of the job he's doing up there.'
'But surely football is about improving yourself and taking on a fresh challenge?'
'Why's he need to take that on now, though?'
'Because it might not be available in a year's time.'
'Lots of other jobs, I know you're being asked about it all the time.
Do you see that, first of all, as flattering?'
VINCENT: 'No, the only thing I see it as is a wasted question.
I feel sorry for the journalist who's asking me the question,
because you're getting nothing!'
It's been a true pleasure and honour to work with Vince this year.
-We score a lot of goals... -'To be able to discuss things,
learn things from my perspective.
To move things forward in a way that's been very collaborative.'
29% of the time, the opponent takes the lead against us.
But 77% of the time, we're able to get back.
So, it means maybe something about the character,
the dynamics, the cohesion, whatever that means.
But to me, it says something.
'Vince is capable of a lot, and we're hopeful that we can satisfy'
those ambitions and be able to work together for that,
but we'll collaborate for as long as that's possible.
Thank you for your hospitality, by the way.
-You're very welcome. -You're absolutely fantastic.
-And all the best. -Well, thank you.
Another Lancashire club in the Premier League is what we want.
-Been doing a great job! -Well, I find it funny
that a lot of people told us we didn't know what we were doing,
appointing a manager with no experience!
-(LAUGHS) -There you go.
And your next problem is keeping hold of the bugger!
With that success, isn't it?
-It's like a vicious circle, isn't it? -Yeah.
-I hope you keep hold of him. -I hope we do, too.
(PHONE CHIMING)
I'm optimistic. The only issue is, will we agree price?
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello. How are you?
I'm good. I'm good. So, I got a couple different things.
One was just on Vince's contract.
And you saw my note from earlier about opening it back up
and what kind of in terms that I was looking at.
'We would all agree that things have been going better
than we had projected.'
That one, I definitely want to send that note tonight.
'And I especially think that where we are versus
where we had planned to be is very different.'
How does that compare to kind of like, well,
we haven't talked numbers yet, but how does?
We're four plus one right now, right?
'The contract that we had in place...
..needed to be updated, if you will,
for the success that's being had.
There's an opportunity here to send a message and crystallise things.
And say, you know what, we're committed to one another
for the foreseeable future.'
OK.
Speak to you soon. Thanks!
MAN: Ready?
So if you pick out the 50/1, you win it?
You could do, mate! Anyone can win.
20 quid, and you get a random horse
-in the Grand National. -400 quid pot it is, mate.
-Oh, which one have you got? -Oh, Mr Coffee!
-Nice, I'll take that. -Long House Poet, 14/1.
-Nice! -D'you know what? I hate poetry.
You're gonna back it?
-How many horses are there? -40.
We've got about 28 minutes.
-How much is it a go? -20 quid.
-20 quid? What, a horse? -Yeah.
You're winding me up, aren't you?
Think how much money you can win!
£20, £20, bro!
We're in the Premier League now.
-Ooh! -His is not bad, mate.
-What number is that? -18/1.
-Do I get money back? -If you win, yeah.
-No, if I lose. -No.
Come on, mate!
-Do you want a horse? -I don't know what it is. OK.
It's Grand National, it's horse racing tomorrow.
66/1! Should I just put the 20 down the drain then.
You'd be surprised, mate. You keep that!
-Oh, soz. -Let's get in the gym.
(CHATTER)
MAN: Vince! Vincent!
COMMENTATOR: 'Rotherham United against Burnley,
18th against 1st.
Burnley, 12 points clear at the top.'
Last five games of the season, finishing well, same standards!
Burnley victory coupled with Sheffield United
failing to win would make them champions,
which would make the man alongside me, Vincent Kompany,
I'm sure, a very happy man.
(CHANTING)
'It's a good run from Roberts. Who's he got in the middle?
There's Twine!'
-(CHEERING) -'Oh, great goal!
Great goal for Burnley!
It's a dangerous corner, and that's gone in.
Rotherham have the equaliser!
Here's Benson. End-to-end stuff now.
He's cut inside. Oh! That is classic Manuel Benson.
Sheer quality.
In the box for Rotherham, and Kelly scores!
Burnley have spurned the chance
to be crowned champions this evening.'
VINCENT: 'I'm going here with a team who's already achieved
tremendous things. We're in a good place.'
It just doesn't feel great because we want to win this game.
It is what it is, so we have to prepare for QPR now.
COMMENTATOR: 'It's going to be another long throw from Rangers.
Causing some problems in the box.
Chance here for Field, and it's in!
1-0 to Queens Park Rangers.
Roberts, wide to Benson. What can he deliver here?
Cuts inside. Has a shot!'
-(CHEERING) -'And it's in.
Benson does what Benson does best!
-Burnley level.' -Benson!
'Rangers on the attack. Surely, he'll put a cross in?
And it's in!
Martin with the header. Queens Park Rangers back in front.
Total deflation around Turf Moor.
And it looks like the title celebrations will have to be
put on hold for a little bit longer...'
Ah! Not today, not today.
OK, boys. When we started the second half,
I said on the bench to Benners...
I said, "I've been in these type of games.
I know the feeling, I know what's going on."
I'm not surprised, I'm not surprised.
Winning titles. It's not winning without pressure.
But that feeling that you have in this game,
it's not going to go away.
It's going to be even bigger.
Your body language is everything.
Second half, we looked beaten to me.
Jordan, Taylor, Connor.
Ian, Cullen.
Anass, Benny.
There's no point in me saying us as a team.
I might as well name the names, let it hurt.
We looked beaten. To me, you told me we are beaten.
And I hope you're angry about what I just said. Let it hurt.
Yeah? And now you're learning what it is to be in that moment
where I have to do something special to win the game,
to win a trophy.
And usually, you know what that something special is?
It's nothing special.
It's doing what you've done all season.
Yeah? So, should we care about this now?
Nah, no more. Care about winning the next game.
The opportunity to win the league
in the stadium of your enemy.
The best feeling you can have in football.
So, maybe everything's lined up the way we need it to be,
to go and win the league in Blackburn. All right?
That belief now goes up, calmness goes up,
and we're ready for the next game, we go and fucking battle.
We go and fucking fight, if that's what it takes.
All right, boys? Great.
'You can be doing well, but then you always need
like a shock moment to kind of either nail down the principles,
or you know, get rid of things that will harm you.
And then, you use those moments to kind of nail down,
and say, OK, that happens never again.
Never waste the opportunity to learn from something like this.
I mean, you're rocked and shook and you come home,'
and there might be something in the back of your mind that worries.
Wonders whether it's a pattern, whether it's a systemic weakness.
Go on!
REPORTER: Bit of a head scratcher, I'd imagine...
'I think with experience and discipline,
you start working through new ways, through solutions,
and you think of how you can transmit this to the players.'
For all the things you know you do well,
there's always things you need to improve on.
NEWSREADER: 'We have some breaking news concerning
the fate of Dominic Raab.' REPORTER: 'Yes, Dominic Raab
in the last few minutes has published his resignation letter.
-He has resigned...' -(CHATTER)
I think we're going to go ahead and get started here.
The intention of today is going to be primarily
about the plan for the next year and looking forward.
We are in discussion as to what is the best way to announce
Vince's contract. If I get my way, it will be a lot of fun.
If he gets his way, it'll be boring!
He doesn't want to take anything away from the team,
-which I fully understand. -But the deal with Vince is done?
The deal with Vince is done, yeah.
I thought I'll just take you through what we've accomplished
in the last three months. First thing was a refinance
of our bank debt. If you recall, last November,
we closed a £40 million... We've paid that down to about
£33 million now. That we'll continue to advertise,
but we're going to need more funding in the Premier League.
Our thinking is we want to be reasonably active in the window
and build a club that can build and build and build on itself.
And as you guys are very aware, it's a lot easier to do all
of this business when there's good news happening on the pitch.
OK. I think we're all good.
We'll turn it over to Vince
and Lee for the player strategy side.
Um, I think we'll start with the financial strategy a little bit.
-OK. -Truth is, to be honest, it's going to be extremely difficult
no matter how we cut this, there's no nice way of saying it.
It's a very big, competitive league with clubs that have a huge amount of funding.
Any squad costs below 100 million,
it's just this hugely volatile existence.
So, if you look at all three clubs in the bottom three this year,
they've all spent £140 million plus.
It might take us three or four years
to compound that kind of growth in value.
We have to be smart. We have to be smarter than we've been already.
And we were pretty smart going into this season.
But I think to simplify it, the moves we did in January,
they were a spend to avoid spending Premier League tax.
When we get promoted, it actually helps us a lot to,
you know, to not have to spend an extra £50-60 million
-on new recruitments. -From the outside looking in,
there's been less utilisation for Foster than maybe we anticipated.
He's an expensive striker, he seemed to come...
Well, for me, it was completely planned because I keep saying
everyone's getting nervous about the price tag.
We ran an analysis. He's going to be the cheapest striker
in the Premier League, by some distance.
So, everybody's getting hung on to the fact that
we paid a lot of money in the Championship, but next season,
That's like not even, not even the minimum entry price.
Lee's explained it's the big boys' table,
so let's be clever, do it before, and develop him
like we've developed so many players.
-You can see that potential? -Yeah, we do, definitely.
We also did a network analysis with the players.
Who talks to who, who goes and has food with who,
social life, professional life.
A lot of the players who were central in terms of the teams' life,
they're the ones who we removed. But it was, we felt it was necessary
and we felt that with time, new connections would build.
We lose another player this year with Ashley Barnes,
who was probably the biggest one in terms of connecting
all the groups in the team. I thought that the other players
were looking at him more like a clown.
And when we did the analysis, I realised no,
they look at him like a real leader, they look up to him.
The best example is if he has a good day,
everybody can have a good day. If he has a bad day,
we all need to have a bad day.
-And so... -A true leader!
(LAUGHTER)
And I explained this to Ash. I said, there's a whole life
after football, which you have to prepare yourself for now,
because that type of behaviour will kill you
once you've got no-one there to say you're a great player any more.
And every time there was something, every day, I was like,
"Ash, that's what we spoke about." Like, I really treated him
a little bit like one of my children, in that sense.
But what I got back from him was unbelievable,
to the point where two months before the end of the season,
I was able to tell him upfront, "Ash, you're not part of my plans
"for next season." And...
And I only lost him for three days.
(LAUGHTER)
-Is that big enough? -It's about right, actually.
All right, gentlemen, we're ready. Are we in battle mode?
We better buckle up. Russell's driving!
Biggest game of the season, I think.
to win the title...
..at Ewood Park would be
beyond the imagination of most Burnley fans.
It's a true definition of win-win.
-See you've got police on every one of the bridges? -Yeah.
That's because they don't want people throwing stuff at the buses.
They don't want Blackburn fans throwing rocks or TVs.
Didn't you or someone say that last time we played them in November,
it was the largest police presence in, like, 50 years?
It was definitely the biggest police operation
in Lancashire for a long time.
-Oh, it's more police! -(SIREN WAILING)
I did learn a bunch of new gestures that day.
-Definitely a few songs. -A few new words?
Words, the most part I knew. Just not used in that way!
Oh, hang on. I've got more action.
I don't think we're going anywhere for a little bit.
There's the team bus.
There's a few players in there thinking,
"I've not had this before."
And there's a guy, look, he's gesturing.
-Just waving, right? -Sort of.
-I tend to use all five of my fingers when I wave. -Oh!
-Peace sign, right? -Yeah.
-There it is, Ewood Park. -That looks massive.
Remember, these guys played in the Premier League for...
Well, won the Premier League!
(SHOUTING)
COMMENTATOR: 'A huge night and perhaps one that may be forever remembered
for Burnley, as they look to seal the Championship title
here at Ewood Park, home of their bitter rivals, Blackburn Rovers.
The oldest rivalry in the EFL, one that reaches back
to the first ever season of English league football,
all the way back in 1888.'
(CHANTING)
Come on, Burnley! Come on, Burnley!
Just another game, lads, eh?
No fucking stupidness, lads. Stay with 11 men!
It's the most important game of the season, eh?
Once you're in that game, you're off. Off and fucking going.
We're aggressive when we lose it.
Stay calm, boys. Stay calm together!
Build that circle, boys. Let's go, boys.
Boys. From a man who's been at this place before. Bellers.
Boys, I've watched us have 44 fucking derbies this year.
The level of consistency you continuously fucking show
is fucking incredible.
Do that again today. That's all you have to fucking do.
Every game's a fucking derby. Every fucking game.
We don't change for this. Do what you do, win your duels.
Fucking first contact, second balls. Yeah?
-Yeah. -We don't change for fucking no-one on any occasion.
-Off we go. -(ALL SHOUTING)
(FANS CHANTING)
COMMENTATOR: 'The waiting is over. Blackburn Rovers against Burnley,
one of the oldest derbies in English football.
Kompany's side still need three points to secure the title.
And we are underway.
Barnes trying to flick it on. Doesn't quite work.
He's trying to pick out Roberts.
Wharton... Oh, nicked here by Zaroury!
Oh! And Zaroury very nearly capitalised.'
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
'Infringement given against Barnes.
There's a bit of fighting between him
and the Blackburn skipper.'
(CHANTING) Fuck off, Burnley! Fuck off, Burnley!
'Swung in by Hedges. Way deep, way too deep.
It's just got a little bit scrappy.
More words here for the skipper.
The referee trying to keep control of the game.'
Fuckin' break his legs!
'Szmodics now running at the Burnley defence, into the box.
-Flicked on!' -(CHANTING)
-(WHISTLE BLOWS) -'That is the half-time whistle.
A half of very few chances...'
(CHANTING)
Stand up for the champions, Blackburn!
'Burnley will get us underway, second half.
Hooks it wide for Zaroury. Oh, that's a poor challenge!
Running at Burnley here, edge of the box. Finds Hedges.
Can he get a cross in? He can!
On top, easy take.
I think Burnley will make changes shortly,
and I wouldn't be surprised to see Manuel Benson.
Here's Brereton Diaz. Cullen gets back at him and fouls him.
Screams of "book him" from the crowd.
Maatsen gets back at him. It'll be a free kick.
Maatsen in the book. The referee starting to use his cards.
Instructions from Vincent Kompany.'
'Looks like they might go two in midfield here.
Get a grip on the game...'
'Cork's dived in here. That's his first challenge.
I think it's just a lecture.
Across comes the defender, and catches Benson!
Ooh!
He was getting progress down that right-hand side.
Here's Benson again.
Can he go on the outside? Comes inside, has a shot...
Oh, what a goal! Manuel Benson once more.
-That is top class...' -(CHEERING)
'Cork's run into trouble. He's knocked over.
Looked a foul to me.
It's a big five minutes now for Burnley.
Burnley, a step closer to the Championship title.
Chance here for Szmodics!
Taylor did so well with the interception.
Wow, that was a big moment.
The keeper's coming up. The referee's had another look
at his watch, there's time for the corner.
It is swung in but they've got it away.'
(WHISTLE BLOWS, CHEERING)
'Burnley have done it. Fantastic!
The Clarets deserve their Championship title.
They've been the best side throughout the campaign.'
-Come on! -Come on!
(CHEERING)
ANNOUNCER: Flags flying, the sound of vuvuzelas.
And claret and blue shirts as far as the eye can see!
(PLAYERS SINGING)
* This time, for Africa! *
* Tsamina mina, eh, eh Waka waka, eh, eh *
* Tsamina mina zangalewa This time for Africa! *
Guys, I have one song for Barnsey, yeah?
Barnsey!
ALL: * Barnsey's on fire, your defence is terrified *
* Barnsey's on fire... *
* Ooh! Na-na-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na! *
* Na-na-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na... *
(WHISTLE BLOWING, CHEERING)
ALL: Campeones, campeones, ole, ole, ole!
(CHATTER)
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Vincent Kompany!
(CHEERING)
-How does that feel? -This is amazing.
It's not normal, how many of yous are here today. And...
(CHUCKLES)
Been in top level football for 20 years,
and it's very, very rare to come across a good environment,
good people, hard-working people.
And a place where people want you to do well.
And that's why I'm so happy to remain to this club
and work hard to get something done in the Premier League as well.
More importantly, no-one believed in us.
And today, in this division, we are the best.
And I'm going to ask the fans for one favour.
Turf Moor next season
has to be hell for every team that comes and plays there.
(CHANTING)
Boys?
ALL: Ole, ole, ole!
Campeones, campeones...
..campeones, ole, ole, ole!
(CHANTING CONTINUES)
ALAN: 'I never lost faith.
Just kind of been overwhelming that it's happened so quickly.
And it is such an amazing atmosphere
and feeling in the town.
You don't want to lose any of that.
I just hope that we can actually use it to carry the momentum,
versus us use it as just a memory for other things.
INTERVIEWER: Last one from me. What have you learned
about yourself over the last 12 months, Alan?
-That I hate football. No! -(LAUGHTER)
Sorry, you got to cut that.