Manchester United are back in action this evening as they entertain Burnley in the Carabao Cup fourth round. They will be going head-to-head with a familiar foe at Old Trafford in the form of Clarets manager Vincent Kompany, the former captain of bitter rivals Manchester City.
The Belgian coach is sure to get a frosty reception when he takes to the dugout for his first crack at the Red Devils since retiring from his playing career.
Kompany made 11 appearances at Old Trafford during his time with the Cityzens and emerged victorious on five occasions, including the memorable 6-1 back in their first Premier League title-winning season in 2011-12.
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With Kompany’s City allegiance, this was one of the more interesting cup ties when the draw was made and there could certainly be the chance of an upset. Not just because Kompany brings a wealth of experience when it comes to winning at this famous old ground, but because his promotion-chasing side have been playing some excellent football in the Championship this term.
Burnley are top of the table in the second tier with 47 points from the first half of the campaign. They have the joint-most wins in the division with 13 and have only lost twice. Kompany has constructed a clinical attack with the Clarets having found the back of the net on 46 occasions in 23 matches.
Former Premier League star Jay Rodriguez has scored nine already this term for his hometown club while wingers Manuel Benson and Nathan Tella have netted seven. It has already been said how remarkable the football transformation has been at Turf Moor under Kompany in such a short space of time.
Gone are the days where Burnley’s football was frustrating but effective to watch. Kompany has kept the effective part but implemented an exciting style of play which has made them one of the strongest forces in the Championship this year.
It is hard to see them finishing outside the top two in 2022-23 and an instant return back to the top-flight appears to be on the horizon. That is why this north-west battle with United is going to be a good test for both Kompany and his players. This will provide them with a precise marker of where they are in their evolution under his stewardship, and they can learn what can be improved on should they make an immediate return to the Premier League.
There is a strong chance that this Carabao Cup match will grab the attention of Kompany’s former employers City, who could be keeping tabs on their former skipper as potential replacement for Pep Guardiola later down the line. The Spaniard signed a new deal at the Etihad last month, extending his tenure until at least 2025, and while it was a huge boost for the reigning Premier League champions, he won’t be in charge forever.
It is very likely that there have already been minor conversations at the Etihad about putting together a plan when the day comes and Guardiola moves on. There is likely already a list of candidates knocking about somewhere and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kompany’s name scribbled on it.
Not just because of the wonders he’s been working at Burnley after just six months, but because he is a City legend (he has a statue to prove it) and knows the club inside and out. His final years as a City player were under Guardiola and from the way his Burnley side operate, you can see certain aspects in his philosophy that he has inherited from his mentor.
The former defender will be relishing tonight’s battle against an old enemy and should his team triumph over United, the whispers of him being the ideal candidate to succeed Guardiola at City in the future will only increase.
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