Man City struggle but go top of the League and relegate Burnley

24:11And it is a very toxic place to be. You do see things, things get taken way out of hand. And I think that's part of the manager's job these days is to completely crush things that get circulated online because it's all rubbish. But they have to put on, like you said, a straight back. They have to be really professional, really clear and really precise with what they say because ultimately they're the face of the club when they have to speak pre-post-game two, three times a week. Let's show you the only goal of the game. Gary said in commentary actually, Micah, that this was the kind of goal that Erling Haaland would score an awful lot when he was at Borussia Dortmund.

24:48Yeah, well, he wants that space to run in. And it was actually a great goal. Not only was it a great finish by Haaland, but it's the approach play, the set-up play, the way Burnley tried to press, and now they've got that space. And lovely little touch there from Doku. And then he wants to... And if we had that space in the Premier League every week, he would score 40, 50 goals in the Premier League. But he doesn't, and teams have to adapt to, I mean, that because he's a machine once he's in flow. And the finish is just delightful. It was back to front in 16 seconds and six passes, is it? Yeah, and the irony in it is that Burnley, that was probably the only mistake Burnley made the whole game, was to jump and be high and give them the space.

25:29But they had the chances and that was obviously the goal. But then these are the moments. This was earlier on. Again, Burnley still getting players in the box, but they managed to pick out Cherky in this situation. And, I mean, we've put Cherky on a pedestal. That's a great save. It's an unbelievable save, but Cherky in the form is in that. That has to hit the back of the net. That Cherky chance was, when is it, still nil-nil. After that, City's chances in the main didn't really test Dubravka, did they? No, I would say it's because of this. Look at the low block that Burnley are in. Izzy is completely right earlier when you said it was a good performance from them.

26:09If Burnley would have played like this from the start of the season, they would have been a lot better because on the transition, they were very good. But look at the numbers they've got in the box. When they were jumping in, it was the right time. It was going to take something special. People throwing the bat was excellent. But it's almost like they turned up and they wanted it. They wanted it today, Burnley. It was going to take something absolutely special for Man City to score a second. And Cherky was trying. Bernardo Silva was trying. Here from Gonzalez, just wide in the post. And then the chances...

26:40This is the best of the lot, wasn't it? Yeah, this is O 'Reilly late on. Just tries to be almost too casual, I think. He didn't want to be emotional in that moment. He just didn't catch it right. And again, Dubravka probably is easier save of the night. They're the remaining fixtures, which we are going over ad nauseum. But as we leave that there, let me put this point to you. Somebody made this comparison to me with Rory McIlroy at the Masters a year ago, right? when he blew a lead, ended up in a play-off and his caddy said to him as they went down the fairway to the tee to start the play-off, if you'd been offered this at the start of the week, you'd have taken it.

27:21If you'd said to Arsenal fans, with five games to go, you'd be level on points with Manchester City, level on goal difference with Manchester City, it's only on goals scored, would they have taken it? 100%. And in a Champions League semi-final. Yeah. Absolutely you would, but I think that, again, we come back to the hype and the situation and the expectation, but the reality of where Arsenal are at right now is outstanding. So what it actually then boils down to is, can everybody connect to reset their mindset to go, we'd have taken this? I think everybody's taken a push of the reset button after these two sides went head-to-head on Sunday because the emotion and the intensity building up to that game for the outcome to have happened to one Manchester City, I feel like now we're going into almost a mini-season.

28:08where these two sides with these sets of fixtures, they're going to be waiting for each other to slip up. And people say Everton away and Bournemouth away could be City's two most difficult fixtures left. Before they go to Everton away, Arsenal have two Premier League games. They have Newcastle at home this weekend when City are in FA Cup action and then Fulham at home before City play Everton. They could be six points clear again before City next play. Yeah, and that could give them a boost. but if you look at the Champions League semi-final, you'd expect Arsenal, with the Formula 1 show this season, to beat Newcastle and to beat Fulham.

28:46It's what the Atletico Madrid game takes out of them because I believe they can beat them. Have they got enough grit and determination to win all of their good? They've got the quality. And I feel as though when we talk about Arsenal, it's, oh, they've bottled it. All this, again, social media, they've not bottled it. It's just the opener door for Man City, it's still in their hands. They can do it. It's just what those games in the Champions League take out of them because against Athletic Omid and Simeone, they're going to grind them down. Yeah, they are. And it's funny because we speak about the game tonight, Manchester City.

29:24They didn't put in the performance, but they got the result. Arsenal at the weekend put in a performance, but didn't get the result. So that's what I mean by the twist of it. But if you're Arsenal off the back of that City game, as soon as you get over the result and you put it to bed and the fact that the way that they played they've teed themselves up to finish the season strongly I thought they were outstanding in terms of the performance they hit the post twice yes Manchester City hit the post as well but they created chances against one of Europe's top sides and I think that they can take great confidence from that but obviously the headlines will be that you know Arsenal are slipping up well they're not they're still right in it and the league table tells you that so would you expect them I don't like asking asking you questions I don't like asking you questions that could then be replayed over and over and making you look dap.

30:09But you're still going to...

30:13Yes, I am, I slept. Of course you are. Would you expect, even though what you said about the Champions League and everything, would you expect Arsenal to be six clear by the time City next play? Oh, yeah, for sure. All right, you would. I would, I would. Yeah, I would because they've got... They lost in the League Cup final. Obviously, that was a blow. and the reason why I say that because and we was having a debate at the weekend with Roy and he was saying well they lost they're putting up good performance but they lost but you can take something from a performance they've been very good in a low block and it was better pressing Havertz is back Jokeres is back they need to get Saka back as soon as Moreno's a big miss for them Timber's a big miss for them but if you look at the game on the whole Man City were wobbling for a little bit Arsenal have big chances it's just about taking football's all about moments as we know they need to take the moments when they get them and if they do that there will be yeah there'll be six points clear okay the other side of tonight's story is that Burnley have been relegated they'll be back in the championship next season uh that man there when he came off the pitch spoke with Juliet Farrington here's Kyle Walker Kyle um was that a bit of sweet night tonight with the performance that you put in but obviously you know the outcome in terms of the Premier League?

31:36No, it was a disappointing evening for Burnley Football Club. I'm an employer of Burnley Football Club and I'll do my best for the shirt to make sure that we got a result. Unfortunately, now we are relegated and we have to, like I've just said in there, we have to play the remainder of the games, but we need to play the remainder of the games with that level of performance because that's probably what we needed in that patch where we didn't pick up the victories that we needed or the points that we needed on the board, which made it an uphill battle for us to come to this point now. And that's the sweet part of the bittersweet, isn't it?

32:10The fact that performance tonight showed what you could have done this season. Yeah, of course, but it's no point showing it on the last game when you need a result against Manchester City, they're chasing the title. We needed to do it before, but that's no discredit to the lads because I've seen them train. I've been there training. I've run every blade of grass with them and they have been fantastic this season. Their attitude and everything, when we're getting knocked down and we keep getting knocked down, they keep getting up and they keep turning up and playing, not always to our best of our ability.

32:47But we're doing what we can do. I think just sometimes in this league you need to take your chances when the chances come and you need to defend the goal like your life depends on it. And we've probably fell short on both of them areas come any part of the season. And tonight, when Erling, so early on, put Manchester City ahead, but then after that, you were creating those chances, weren't you? You had two or three really, really good chances and also in the second half as well. Yeah, and I feel that's the slight difference when you're talking about teams that are coming up to teams that are fighting for the league that they get one chance, they finish it.

33:26They get another chance, they might not finish it, but the next one, they're going to finish it. I feel if we would have put one of them away, it could have been a different game, but it's football, and you have to learn from these occasions, you have to learn from this experience of being in the Premier League, and hopefully now, next season, we come back to the drawing board and bounce straight back up. And talking about next season, it's how you finish now this season, isn't it, to take into the new season, and just talking to the players, as I have done a lot this season, done tonight too, there is a real togetherness, there is a real spirit.

33:58There's absolutely no split whatsoever, is there? No, definitely not. And like I've just said in there, what this club means to this town is incredible. You would not know, I drive through it every day and you see a Burnley shirt whenever you're driving into training and it means a lot to them. So, you know, from us to them, you know, thank you for every bit of support that you've made for us this season and hopefully we can do your proud come next season and get straight back up into the big league, which I feel that this club should be. And Scott Parker does have a reputation of getting clubs back into the Premier League, doesn't he?

34:29Well, hopefully he can keep that reputation because we're going to need it. We're going to need everyone. You know, it's not just the players and the staff. It's the fans, as you can tell from my voice. I'm very disappointed. It's a bit emotional because I came here with a dream to keep this club up. I've achieved a lot, you know, personally in my life, in football. but this would have been right up there as much as it wouldn't have been a title or anything like that but it would have been something very special to keep this club up but hopefully we can come back and do it again And what else have you said in that dressing room right now?

35:01What can you say? What can you say? This is people's dreams that have now come to an end in the Premier League but you need to take this in and bottle it up and use that fire to make sure that we're back here next season that's the main objective now We need to respect the Premier League and play the last number of games and do it like we did tonight. But also we need to bottle this emotion up that we've got with us and come pre-season use that to make sure that we're back here come a year later. Confirmation of Burnley's relegation when we show you the bottom half of the table. Leeds getting a point at Bournemouth tonight.

35:38So they're now nine points clear of Spurs. It's been such a difficult, at times miserable season for Burnley's fans, hasn't it? It has and I think you listen to what fans say and you can feel the reaction being here today. I think you could tell that they wanted to feel the fight from the team and they put in a really good account of themselves today. You can't deny that, but it's all come far too late in terms of the whole campaign and I think there's been standout individual performances from certain Burnley players this season but I think as a collective, Scott Park has been, I think he's a terrific coach, really top guy and I think that he's got really clear ideas in the way he wants to play but I think they've probably lacked aggression throughout the course of the season.

36:23You look at what Sunderland have been like to play, look what Leeds have been like and you look at that kind of shift in intensity and aggression and kind of, I don't know, desire. I haven't seen that all season from Burnley, seen it in spells but haven't seen it all season and you touched on it earlier around a typical Burnley side, didn't you Micah? Yeah I totally agree with everything that you said to be honest I just coming to Burnley especially the championship it's bouncing obviously it's not going to be bouncing today because it could get relegated but normally you've got to use that energy to get results and you mentioned before the game when was last October?

36:57and that's not good enough if you're not going to win your home games then you're going to be two wins at home it's not good enough but we want to see them back because we love Burnley we love the atmosphere the fans are great here they are down another battling performance from Leeds this evening they've picked up another point this time on the road at Bournemouth it takes them to 40 we'll show you what happens when we come back

37:30Did you know you can stream live Premier League football through Now TV it's an instant streaming service offering access to all 12 Sky Sports channels every Sky Sports Plus stream and much more there are day or month membership options available and you don't need to be a Sky customer to use it just head to nowtv.com to check out the latest packages

38:03Manchester City get all three points then here at Turf Moor They're level on points with us A few sighs of relief as well amongst the City players and the fans But they get the three points and they're leveled with five to go Burnley are down, we'll hear from Scott Parker in a little while In the other game this evening, Bournemouth took the lead against Leeds without from Sanessi, winning it back and then playing it through perfectly for Junior Kruppi to put them 1-0 up at the Vitality Stadium. Leeds went straight up the other end and equalised as Nonto's shot takes a deflection off James Hill.

38:40And that is the equaliser. Then Bournemouth thought they had won it four minutes from full time. Rayan with the goal there and then they thought they went 3-1 up as Evan Nielsen put this away in the first minute of second half stoppage time ruled out for offside that is tight from that angle but it was ruled out we haven't got time for a VAR discussion finished 2-1 and then Leeds with not far off the last kick of the match equalised Sean Longstaff getting that Bournemouth missed the opportunity to go sixth and there will be discussions about whether a player is in the eyeline of the goalkeeper there.

39:26Bournemouth have now lost 20 points from winning positions. Let's hear from both managers with Nathalie Jeffer. Yeah, so I'm experienced long enough in this business that we will just celebrate when it's mathematically done, but I'm confident, I'm confident. We are on 40 points, we are right now seven games unbeaten in all competitions. Why should we lose all the last four games anyhow? So we are in a good position right now, priceless point for us, and we travel away really confident and in a good mood, but there is just celebration when there is something to celebrate, and for that we'll stay with the foot on the gas.

40:02I think obviously it's very difficult to swallow this one. I think our offside is millimetrical, but you have to accept there is one machine. This is like the last millimeter of the shoulder of Evan Ilson is one millimeter ahead of the last defender. You have to accept, but the last goal he cannot accept. The last goal. His Piro is offside. It makes Petro's job more difficult. Petro doesn't see. If you put a wall in front of the keeper, he's offside. Petro has to do like this. The wall goes this side of Piro. is when you have to dive there. How much it affects, I don't know. But if it had said 0.1 % is offside and there is one guy watching the replays like we were watching there and it's two points that you lose because of this decision.

40:53Pirodas, the save from Petro more difficult, obviously, yes, there is no discussion. It was difficult, it was... He would have saved it, I don't know. I know that it puts it more difficult to Petro to save that ball. because he has to do like this. He has to dive that side where Pirot is avoiding the view of the trajectory of the ball, how the position of the body of long staff is to the finish so he can go one side or the other. You know, I'm not going to discuss the 50-50 ones, the penalty of Bruxy, or the offside of Evans, one millimeter offside. We have to accept. These are the rules. You know, it's frustrating, but the other one I cannot accept because it's not the first time decision also and it's two massive points for us.

41:35Two massive, massive. in the semi-final we are definitely not the favourites in this game we are a bit the underdog but also a situation that we know from the league and for that we want to deliver in the best possible manner I mean we haven't had a chance to properly see all of this is it but just on first glance you can understand Ereola's frustration a little bit you absolutely can I mean that looked absolutely I mean that probably is a shirt sleeve Yeah, that's very, very close. I don't want to comment, but it looks very, very close. Good finish from Evan Nielsen. Look at Mike. Maybe Mike has got a better name.

42:16Maybe they're doing that in VAR.

42:23So that was the first one. We assume, you know, that is down to the lines and there you go. This is probably a bit more subjective, this one. Yes, it's Pirou in front, isn't it? But it's such a good finish. It's hard to really know on that angle there. But he sort of is in front of the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper can see the ball there, so that's probably why they are. Can he? I mean, he's not directly in his eye, like, is he? No, but the thing is, when goalkeepers, let's speak to goalkeepers in this situation, they're going round and he can see him shooting there I don't think he's directly in his eye line but he is affecting if you look to the left of him as he shoots there he can see it but now he's probably not going to get there anyway do you know what that's a difficult call from that that is a difficult call because is Petrovic looking over the crowd of bodies or is he looking over Pyro yeah because if it's not Pyro and it's a crowd of bodies then And technically he's not interfering, but that's a tight call.

43:33Two tight calls for late at night. It's just his eye line to the left a little bit, isn't it? Yeah, maybe. Anyhow, two all. Leeds reach 40 points. Bournemouth have gone seventh. Let's hear from Scott Parker after Burnley's relegation with yours. You talked in the build-up of this about the weight on your shoulders, the burden that you've been having for the last couple of months or so. So how do you feel now and how is the team feeling now? Well I think like always while of course we've had an understanding certainly I have that the inevitable was getting closer and that curtain's come down on us now and the confirmation of that has been there look I think I've said it throughout the year that we've failed and we've fallen a little bit short today as always I can't be critical of this team, this team have been hugely competitive and have been, have absolutely given us everything.

44:29I've seen that every single day, including myself. Now, I think you can, you can fault us or you can be critical in certain moments where we've probably just lacked a certain quality about us that has not managed, we've not managed to obviously get enough points in this division. But I think tonight's performance probably represents us a little bit in terms of what we are. And for me, like I said, I'm immensely proud of this team. And I say that, of course, that, you know, I may get ridiculed for saying that in the world we live in at this current moment in time. Why would you get ridiculed for saying that?

45:01You're only being honest. Yeah, I am being honest, but that's just the way it is. These players have come in every single day with an absolutely humongous challenge and we've just fallen a little bit short. The facts are we needed to overachieve this year, overachieve beyond overachieve every single game, and we've not managed to do that. and so yeah but like I said their eyes their ears and they've absolutely given me everything and for me that you know that means a lot really we'll learn from these experiences as a young group they'll learn from this these experiences a lot of adversity this year and a lot of challenges really and one thing in life what I've realized is that these challenges that come you need to you need to have something about you to bounce back you need to be brave enough to stand in the you need to be brave enough to stand on the touchline and this group constantly stand on that touchline or I stand on this touchline this group constantly stand and yeah for me like I said I'm proud of him.

46:00He's hurting isn't he and you can understand why he's hurting he as well individually has had a tough season. Yeah I think ultimately come down to quality and he's an honest one. I really like his interviews. He never gets too high, he never gets too low. I think he was right in what he said in terms of that was a Burnley performance tonight and if he'd done that a little bit more but ultimately they couldn't compete with the rest of the teams around them and two wins at home is not enough. Sorry for him, obviously he had three promotions. I think he's the right man to bring him back up but if they come back up they need a little bit more.

46:35And I suppose that's a question for the whole club and the hierarchy above him is that, well I suppose for the hierarchy one will be the direction they're going with him maybe but also the direction that they go in when they're looking at recruitment and how they build this squad going forward yeah and like Scott Parker alluded to then it's a young squad and I think he was spot on it was that bit of quality that we've seen from Leeds and Sunderland obviously the two other promoter teams from last season but I think you know he seems to be a terrific coach terrific manager obviously three promotions says a lot about him I think what I like about what Burnley have done is they haven't acted emotionally throughout the season.

47:16They've given him the stability and time to figure it out. And ultimately, they haven't had the quality to get over the line. They're humble enough to admit that, honest enough to admit that. And I would back them to have a terrific season next year and bounce back up. OK, thank you both. Let's just show you what is on the way. Madrid open in the tennis from 10am tomorrow morning

47:46and as far as this Premier League title race is concerned it's all square, level on points, level on goal difference now it's back over to Arsenal, see you soon

48:02Thanks for listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Don't forget to hit follow so you don't miss an episode.