Space. In footballing terms, it’s a concept Vincent Kompany knows well.
When playing and learning under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Kompany realised football was more than about positions. Manufacturing, occupying and managing space was crucial.
At Burnley, Kompany is now beginning to understand that space — or, more specifically, allowing opposition players too much of it in and around the box — can be a big problem.
If an alien landed on earth, it wouldn’t take them long to identify that Burnley have to make significant improvements defensively if they want to compete in the Premier League. Eleven goals conceded in their first three games is a worrying total, especially for a team that finished with the best defensive record in the Championship last season, conceding 35 goals in 46 games.
Things were always going to get harder. Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are formidable opponents, but Burnley have not made themselves difficult to beat.
Their domination of games last season meant they didn’t do as much box defending as is required now. They were defending higher up the pitch, hunting down opponents in their own half. They have persisted with that approach, despite now facing better quality sides who can break lines and pressing structures more accurately and quickly, and punish mistakes more ruthlessly.
Take Tottenham’s fourth goal on Saturday. After winning possession, Spurs worked the ball down Burnley’s right channel, shifting it quickly so Burnley couldn’t close them down. It came to Manor Solomon who spotted Son Heung-min in space, approaching the box.
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