01x04 - More than a Memory

[bunniefuu]

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.

f*cking 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 f*cking prize at

the end of this today!

Come on!

It's not by f*cking luck.

It's cos you're a team.

Just be who you f*ck' 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 f*cking 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 f*cking ball.

You go out there, you think you

are f*cking 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

f*cking bringing

to this place today is

f*cking stronger than anyone

I've ever seen.

Yeah? And when the final whistle

blows, it's a f*cking signature

on our performance. The final

whistle is a f*cking signature

on our performance today, boys.

All right? Enjoy the f*cking

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?

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 f*cking battle.

We go and f*cking 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 k*ll 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 f*cking 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 f*cking 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 f*cking derbies this year.

The level of consistency you

continuously f*cking show

is f*cking incredible.

Do that again today. That's all

you have to f*cking do.

Every game's a f*cking derby.

Every f*cking game.

We don't change for this.

Do what you do, win your duels.

f*cking first contact,

second ba*ls. Yeah?

-Yeah.

-We don't change for

f*cking 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) f*ck off, Burnley!

f*ck 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.'

f*ck' 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.