Mission to Burnley (2023) s01e04 Episode Script

1
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?
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.