New Clarets boss Nicky Hayen aiming expectations high
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Nicky Hayen has made no secret of his desire to deliver yet another instant promotion back to the Premier League for Burnley.
That will be the 45-year-old’s immediate task as he arrives at Turf Moor fresh from the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Despite last season’s woes in the top flight, the Clarets boast an incredible record in the Championship, having won automatic promotion in their last two campaigns under Vincent Kompany and Scott Parker on 101 points and 100 respectively.
In fact, so supreme are Burnley in the second tier, they’ve lost just five of their last 115 games at that level.
Rather than play things down and manage expectations, Burnley’s new boss has made it clear what he expects from his new players.
“What's the most important for us, we want to win games,” he told the club’s YouTube channel.
“We don't just want to compete in the league, we want to win games as much as possible. We want to play for promotion and being champions.
“Of course, you have to start with the first game and win the first game, and then the second, and then the third, and have a winning streak and then everything is possible with this club.”
Hayen is currently Stateside as part of Burnley’s pre-season tour, which concludes with a third and final friendly against Real Salt Lake during the early hours of Thursday morning.
Upon returning to the UK, the Clarets have a friendly against Ajax to look forward to before home games against Espanyol and Torino.
“It's really valuable,” Hayen said of Burnley’s busy pre-season schedule.
“These are also strong competitors, so this means also that we have to play on a really good level. The result is not always important in a pre-season, but it's a good test also.
“Of course, the players have to show themselves also, especially for the fans. I love it that you can also play friendly home games.
“We just want to show that we are a really good team and play every time with passion, with desire, and like I said, that the fans can identify with us. At the end of the game, they're proud of the way we played, no matter what the result was.
“The only thing we can promise is, and I can say 90 minutes, but in modern football now it can be 99, 100, we will do everything to win the game until the last second of the game.”
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