Vincent Kompany witnessed plenty of change during his time at Manchester City but even for him it has been a whirlwind first six weeks in the hot seat at Burnley.
Kompany’s Clarets will have a very different look from the Sean Dyche model when they kick off the Championship season against Huddersfield on Friday night.
Following relegation, nine players aged 29 or over have departed, along with £20million defender Nathan Collins, while interest remains in Maxwel Cornet and Dwight McNeil.
Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was appointed Burnley manager in June
Kompany has been tasked with taking Burnley back to the Premier League as soon as possible
In their place, Kompany has signed eight — with more on the way. Midfielder Josh Cullen is the oldest newbie at 26 and most are much younger including City players CJ Egan-Riley, goalkeeper Aro Muric and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Bookmakers are sceptical the big turnaround in style and personnel will immediately take Burnley back to the Premier League but Kompany is adamant that, for all the change, he wants the club to remain one that nobody likes playing.
‘I remember those trips to Turf Moor,’ he says with a smile. ‘It’s an environment thing. Everyone is that bit bigger, the fans are that bit closer to the pitch, walking through the corridors is a little less comfortable.
‘To be at one of these clubs suits me. It’s something I want to protect and then add the ideas I have about the game.
‘We can change systems and I’ve never heard anybody complaining about a coach saying he wants to attack and score goals. But a culture is not a system and it’s difficult to create.
The Belgian is Manchester City’s most successful captain ever, winning several trophies
He was a mainstay of City’s backline for a number of years before leaving the club in 2019
‘At Burnley there are good people all over the building and that’s something I want to keep. It’s how people interact with each other and stay together in difficult moments.’
Burnley punched above their weight during the Dyche years but even some of their own supporters complained about the sterile way in which they played.
Now it’s Kompany’s turn to find the balance between style and results, against the backdrop of financial restrictions.
He is aware interest in him is based on being the most successful captain in City’s history. Indeed, he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in 2019 in his last match in…