Haaland double leads Manchester City’s opening day victory at Burnley

Courtesy of our friends at FotMob.com, here are the players ratings out of 10.

Here’s some of what Burnley manager Vincent Kompany had to say to the NBC broadcast crew of Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard on the USA Network after the game.

What did he see from his team?

“A team with massive heart and courage and we came up against one of the best teams I’ve ever seen. I said to the boys before the game, you have to get something out of this game hopefully a result, but it could be anything, a dribble, a tackle, momentum as a team. This team, our team, is only going to get better. They [Man City] have seven years worth of momentum.”

What’s next for Burnley as they work for Premier League safety?

“A lot of work. We have more meetings, training sessions than most teams in world football. I told them before as well. A lot of players come to us because they want to be at the level of the players play against. My dream is that that happens with us, but realistically these players will one day move on go elsewhere but you’ve gotta work hard. You don’t just get these opportunities given to you but I know what it took to get there. It’s very clear. You can’t be with us if you’re not willing to do more than elsewhere.”

What will be the Clarets’ focus this season?

“Progress, never results. If things don’t go well I’ll be proven wrong but it was the same last year attitude. Always, always progress. What I don’t want is an emotional roller coaster.”

Burnley’s USMNT (and Italy, and Canada) prospect Luca Koleosho joined the NBC broadcast crew of Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard on the USA Network after the game and spoke about his Premier League debut and why he chose the Clarets after his time at Espanyol.

Some highlights:

• “It was my first game in the Prem,” Koleosho said. “I enjoyed being out there. I just wish we got away with a win but it’s the best team in the world at the movement and we’re going to keep working.”
• “I was playing at Espanyol, a couple games with the first team. After the last game of the season I got the call from the coach and had some great conversation. I decided that my best option was to come here.”
• “Obviously coming in, you know it’s going to be physical. It’s all fast-paced, so adjusting to that, it’ll obviously be better.”

Pep Guardiola is happy with the performance, and compared Erling Haaland to one of the best to ever play in the NBA.

“Not bad at all for the position we came in with not too much preparation,” Guardiola said. “We found a goal early on and that helped us. ... We found the game and the tempo, got the second goal and fixed some things at halftime. ... Then, the connection to Ederson to find Erling 1v1 with a central defender, like basketball, one-on-one against Michael Jordan. We found it, and I’m really pleased for the result.

“We climbed the highest mountain possible. We planted the blue flag and it will remain there, but you have to come down the mountain. Look there, Burnley, Newcastle, Sheffield, and step by step climb the mountain and maybe we’ll arrive in the Springtime to see the flag again. I don’t have any doubt for the way we’re training, the way we behave. We are going to lose games, but I said to the players yesterday the challenge is within ourselves.”

Here’s Guardiola when asked by Rebecca Lowe about the injury to Kevin De Bruyne that saw the megastar subbed off after 24 minutes.

“Hamstring,” he said. “We’ll see how long yet.”

Erling Haaland joined the NBC broadcast crew of Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard on the USA Network after the game and was asked about being redressed at halftime by Pep Guardiola.

“I was a bit mad with Bernardo Silva for not playing me the ball, but Pep explained why he didn’t and I agreed with him and his passion,” Haaland said. “He’s direct and honest. ... Look how many trophies has Pep been winning the last years, and first game of the season at halftime and he’s doing this the first game of the season. To be honest, I love it.”

Howard then asked Haaland about the striker’s mentality after an outstanding 2022-23 season that saw him score 52 goals across all competitions and his club win almost everything there is to offer.

“I will try to be better than I was last season in terms of performances,” Haaland said. “I cannot think too much about goals, you can go crazy if you think of that. It’s a good start. A striker has to score goals. Three points is good. We have to get as many points as we can because it is already a tough period with a final on Wednesday and another game at the weekend.”

Pretty easy in the end for City but Burnley played well in that first half.

Two goals from Erling Haaland set City on their way and Rodri got the crucial third in the second half.

Pep Guardiola won’t be delighted by that display but he will be very happy with the result.

The opposite will be true for Vincent Kompany as his young side caused problems, especially in the first half. The home fans here at Turf Moor were pretty pleased with what they saw.

Game. Set. Match.

A free kick is whipped into a lovely area by Phil Foden and after Erling Haaland and Nathan Ake can’t quite bundle it home, Rodri is on hand to smash in the loose ball.

A brave effort by Burnley tonight but Manchester City have made this look quite easy. In the end.

Burnley had a decent start to the second half but Manchester City have just started to dominate possession and they are sucking the life out of this game.

Vincent Kompany has brought on Jacob Bruun Larsen and Anass Zaroury and that has lifted the Clarets a little. Just half an hour to go here...

I was chatting to a few Burnley fans at half time and they were pretty happy with how that first half went.

Lots of high-pressing and Burnley made it very uncomfortable for City at times.

Let’s see if Vincent Kompany’s side can put a finishing touch on one of these chances early in the second half and make it interesting...

The half time whistle goes here at Turf Moor and although they’re 2-0 down, the home fans are relatively happy with that performance.

Erling Haaland with two clinical finishes for Manchester City (because he’s Erling Haaland) but Burnley have pressed high, won the ball back in dangerous areas and have had chances of their own.

Pep Guardiola was having a very strong word with Haaland as the players walked off the pitch at half time. As he likes to do from time to time, Pep was right in Haaland’s face and it didn’t look too friendly. Hmmm.

That is a stunning finish from Erling Haaland.

Walker got in down the right and pulled it back to Alvarez who put it on a plate for Haaland who curled home superbly with his left foot with a first-time effort. 2-0. Two goals for Haaland.

After a good spell of pressure for Burnley, Manchester City are forced into a change. And it is a big blow. Captain Kevin de Bruyne hobbles off with another injury issue and is replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

De Bruyne was being eased into the new season after his injury in the Champions League final and nursing a hamstring issue for most of the second half of last season.

He walked around the pitch and to the changing rooms after being subbed off and looked despondent. Hopefully he’s not out for too long.

A simply sublime goal from Manchester City. A corner from the right was half-cleared and it then finds its way back out to Kevin de Bruyne.

KDB whips in a sumptuous cross to the back post and Rodri heads it back into the danger zone for Erling Haaland to finish. As simple as that but my word that was beautiful to watch.

Welcome back to the Premier League, Burnley...

So much fun to have Burnley chairman Alan Pace plus investors Kealia Watt and JJ Watt join us ahead of this game.

Obviously, they are PUMPED about Burnley being back in the Premier League. They have big plans for this season, and beyond.

Burnley’s starting lineup is out and plenty of new signings start with James Trafford, Sander Berge, Luca Koleosho, Zeki Amdouni and Dara O’Shea all in from the start. Other new arrivals Jacob Bruun Laursen and Nathan Redmond are on the bench.

There are plenty of new signings but expect Vincent Kompany to stick with the possession-based style which saw his side dominate the Championship last season.

Manchester City’s starting lineup has been released as Kevin de Bruyne starts after being on the bench for the Community Shield, with Rico Lewis looking like he’s playing at left back.

New signings Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are both on the bench, while Ruben Dias is out.

Welcome! It is a beautiful sunny evening here in Lancashire as Burnley host Manchester City to kick off the 2023-24 Premier League season.

The locals are in positive spirits as they sip on pints outside local pubs, as the newly-promoted Clarets have nothing to lose as they host the reigning Premier League champs, and treble winners from last season, Man City.

Ahead of kick off I soaked up some of the atmosphere from the streets of Burnley, as close to 20,000 of the locals (the town only has a population of just over 70,000!) will be joining me here at Turf Moor tonight.

Vincent Kompany on what he will demand from his players after promotion to the Premier League, as he was asked if they will change their possession-based playing style:

“You have to adapt and evolve. Name me one style that guarantees you success and one style that makes you go down. You go through every flavor you want going down and ever flavor you want winning leagues... maybe not in recent years to be fair!” Kompany said.

“The reality is the quality of players and quality is not necessary linked to brining players in it is just about making sure players get better at what they’ve done well.

“The demand will be to be better but to tilt it around style. It’s like an ideological discussion. If you believe one way you are going to keep believing that way and as soon as things go bad, you are going to revery and say you need to change style. But it goes both ways. I’m not too concerned about that.”

He also offered this rallying cry to everyone involved with Burnley:

Pep Guardiola talking about whether or not Man City can repeat the treble:

“It is once in a lifetime,” Guardiola said. “It will not be possible to do what we did last season. We climbed the highest mountain last season, but in the last two days we came down from it and now we start again.

“Everyone has the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain as high as possible. Our football, our level, our mentality will dictate how the season will be.”

Guardiola on facing Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in the season opener:

“Normally, the first games are difficult. Especially against newly-promoted teams because they have nothing to lose, they have the energy and the dream for a good season.

“Vinny knows us well and has done an incredible job, changing the way Burnley played for the last few years with Sean Dyche. He destroyed the Championship, since day one it was win, win, win and it’s so difficult in this competition - he’s done an incredible job.

“So with the style from Vinny, it will be a tough game, especially at the beginning, it’s so difficult. You sometimes need time to reset, but we have to come back the way we were. It’s a question of time.”

The only injury issue for Burnley is Michael Obafemi being out, as the Republic of Ireland international suffered a hamstring injury and has undergone surgery.

It will be intriguing to see how many new signings feature as the likes of Nathan Redmond, Jacob Brunn Larsen and Zeki Amdouni will bring plenty of excitement to their attack.

New signing Josko Gvardiol could some straight in to make his Man City debut, as the Croatian center back is a huge addition and will add even more steel to City’s already rock-solid defensive unit. Nathan Ake is back training and available are a slight issue, so City are fully-fit.

It will be intriguing to watch Cole Palmer this season as he looks ready to step into the team and become a regular given the departure of Riyad Mahrez, while Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva will also do battle for the other starting spots in the attacking midfield area.

And, of course, Kevin de Bruyne (who has been recovering well from his hamstring injury) and Erling Haaland will lead the charge going forward and in midfield Mateo Kovacic should be a key piece this season as he will look to slot straight in for Ilkay Gundogan after the latter departed for Barcelona this summer.