Vincent Kompany’s message to his Burnley players ahead of Manchester City’s return.

The Clarets visit the Etihad to take on Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions after their 19-day winter break.

Burnley is struggling at the other end of the table, sitting 19th and seven points outside of safety, while City is vying for a fourth consecutive crown.

Burnley’s road record against City has been awful lately—they have let up 40 goals in their last 11 games—but Kompany is adamant that his team must keep believing in themselves.

“If I ask my players—some who signed and joined us, some who were in the Championship with us—why do you want to go into the Premier League?” he remarked. It’s because these games are yours to play. You get to test your abilities against the world’s top gamers.

What do you know? It won’t be easy. However, occasionally, something is done. That is the attitude that you must adopt.

“The only thing you can be sure of is that you will lose if you approach things with a defeated perspective.

“You have to maintain the consistency of your belief because these things do not always happen on the first or second try.”

Kompany is the first to admit that City is a unique team—he has a statue of himself outside the Etihad.

Even though the numbers may paint a different picture, the Clarets manager recognizes some similarities between the two teams.

“This is how the club operates; it has been this way for the past six or seven years. That is not something I really anticipate changing in the near future. Regarding City’s success, Kompany remarked, “It’s still there; it’s going to stay.”

As much as I’d want to believe that winning is the side that the world sees, this is something that may exist within your building’s culture. I would prefer not to believe that everything we do is any less tenacious.

“Though the results aren’t exactly the same right now, if you have that kind of culture and climate, nice things will happen in due course.”

In addition to the daunting task of taking on the triple champions of the previous campaign, Burnley may have to contend with the return of Erling Haaland, who is anticipated to play after missing the previous two months due to a foot injury.

Though Kompany is well aware of the threats City already poses without the prolific Norwegian striker, the possibility of Haaland confronting his team doesn’t phase the Belgian.

“We can make accusations, and the list is endless, but what is it? This is a Premier League match,” he declared.

“They are an amazing squad, and no one will ever question their caliber. But these games do not allow you to start defeated.

“I am aware that everyone else will, very correctly, assume that this is how things will turn out. However, we are going there with the intention of making the most of the game, so no, from our end. We must.

Burnley will also probably have to contend with Kevin De Bruyne, a former teammate and fellow countryman of Kompany’s who has returned to action recently.

Strangely, the midfield player’s final game for City occurred on the first day of the season at Turf Moor, when he was injured in the 3-0 victory for his team.

Even though Kompany is one of De Bruyne’s biggest supporters, he is mostly focused on his Burnley team and what they can achieve.

He declared, “Kev will always have an impact.” You may play a variety of positions and still make an influence on the game if you can distribute the ball as well as he does.

“I want to be positive about these guys because we are friends in a way, but at the same time, my current focus is on Burnley.”

“Although I want him to perform well in every game this season, right now I want Brownhill to perform better. That is all I am concentrating on.

“He’s a great guy and a friend, but I want my guys to perform better today.”