Return to the elite! Burnley return to the Premier League after one year

Burnley secured promotion back to the top flight by beating Middlesbrough 2-1, but still have seven games to play in the Championship.

Coach Vincent Kompany joined the club last May. In the summer he had to cope with a major reshuffle of the squad, with 16 players coming in!

At the same time, several mainstays left the club, led by goalkeeper Nick Pope, who is currently a mainstay at Newcastle. Also gone are Maxwel Cornet, Nathan Collins, Dwight McNeil, Wout Weghorst and long-time mainstays Ben Mee and James Tarkowski.

Burnley were renowned for their anti-football, especially when Sean Dyche was still at the club, who still managed to stay in the elite English competition for six seasons with this small club by Premier League standards.

But Vincent Kompany decided to change his playing philosophy. Those fans who happened to switch to a Burnley game in the Championship must have been shocked to see his charges playing combination football.

The team found support in several new arrivals during the season, whether it was the visiting Ian Maatsen or top scorer Tella. Moroccan Anass Zaroury, for example, also impressed and was a great support to the team in the wing areas. Of course, captain Josh Brownhill was also a mainstay.

Kompany used his perfect knowledge of the Belgian league when signing new players. Several players from the Pro League fit in well with the club. Burnley have shown the way to other teams in England’s second top flight.

The big question is how a revitalised Burnley will be able to adapt to Premier League football next season, where they will face the best teams in the world.

Source: Burnley FC