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Vincent Kompany (37), the former world-class defender and current coach of Burnley FC, is visibly disappointed after the 2-0 home defeat against Bournemouth. When asked whether football is the most unfair sport in the world, the Belgian simply shakes his head. Because he knows that the defeat was as unnecessary as the snow that fell on the residents of the city of 80,000 in northern England in early March.
Burnley is clearly the better team for more than ninety minutes, has chances for two wins, but lacks efficiency in attack. Not for the first time this season. “Zek”, as Kompany calls his Swiss striker Zeki Amdouni, must now get things right in the coming matches, according to Burnley’s coach. As a farewell, the Nati player receives an encouraging pat on the back.
Kompany has been watching Amdouni for years
The Nati attacker cannot buy it, but does not burst into tears because of the undeserved defeat. “Football is not always easy, but in such difficult moments we have to grow together.” The team spirit is good despite 20 defeats in 27 matches, the Geneva native said. It is clear to everyone in the almost 20,000 fans at Turf Moor, this beautiful stadium that opened in 1883, that the newcomer from the county of Lancashire is on a direct path back to the second championship.
Amdouni does not regret his move, despite the fear of relegation. Because Kompany, his great supporter, is on the sidelines. A coach who trusts him unconditionally. Amdouni is in the starting line-up in 25 of the 26 Premier League matches. The only reason he came on as a substitute against Bournemouth was because he had to be substituted due to an injury a week earlier.
“We have been following Zeki’s development since his time at Lausanne, and he was already an option for us,” says Kompany. Amdouni confirms that the first contact took place more than two years ago, when Kompany was still coach at Anderlecht. But a change would have been too early at the time, the magician said: “I wanted to prove myself in the Super League first. At my age it is important to play as often as possible.”
It worked very well. Instead of moving abroad, Amdouni moved to FC Basel and within one season he became the hottest thing the Swiss football market had to offer. 27 goals in 52 games, Conference League semi-finals, moving to the promoted team from the Premier League. For more than 18 million.
An extraordinary story of a young man who is rejected by Servette at the age of 13. Who played in the first division at Etoile Carouge in the summer of 2019. Who always believes in becoming a professional. The last street football player in Switzerland. “He has incredible quality, an almost complete player. He is two-legged, strong in the air, good preparation, an absolute team player, a good listener, willing to learn,” says his then coach at Carouge, Jean-Michel Aeby.
No grudge against Rieder
Words that Kompany would also sign. He thinks that players like Amdouni, who do not come from the youth academy, often have that certain thing: “Because they have more room to grow.” But he doesn’t want to celebrate his striker too much. Because he is not someone who wants to focus on individual players, according to the experienced Man City defender. Yet individual prizes are part of football. Kompany himself was, among other things, Footballer of the Year in Belgium and Player of the Year in the Premier League.
Amdouni, on the other hand, was passed over for the best young player award earlier this year. Although Amdouni scored six goals in eleven international matches, reached the semi-finals of the Conference League with FCB and advanced to the best league in the world, the award went to ex-YB player and Rennes professional Fabian Rieder. Because it sounds like a bad joke, Amdouni acknowledged the election on Twitter with three “I’m laughing hard” emojis. He was concerned about the context, says Amdouni. Because he was nominated as both the best player of the national team and the best young player and did not win any awards. According to the 23-year-old, his tweet was never about Rieder. “I would like to award him the prize.”
He doesn’t hold grudges. That’s not necessary. Finally he gave the answer on the field. In the best competition in the world. As a regular player. Who was his toughest opponent? “Arsenal FC’s Declan Rice is a real powerhouse,” says Amdouni. He failed to score a single goal against the Gunners and has scored four this season. Burnley FC scored only 25 goals in 27 games.
Will it work again against West Ham on Sunday?
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 Liverpool F.C
|
27
|
39
|
63
|
|
|
2
|
 Manchester city
|
27
|
35
|
62
|
|
|
3
|
 Arsenal F.C
|
27
|
45
|
61
|
|
|
4
|
 Aston Villa
|
27
|
22
|
55
|
|
|
5
|
 Tottenham Hotspur
|
26
|
16
|
50
|
|
|
6
|
 Manchester United
|
27
|
-2
|
44
|
|
|
7
|
 West Ham United
|
27
|
-4
|
42
|
|
|
8th
|
 Newcastle United
|
27
|
12
|
40
|
|
|
9
|
 Brighton & Hove Albion
|
27
|
5
|
39
|
|
|
10
|
 Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
27
|
-3
|
38
|
|
|
11
|
 Chelsea F.C
|
26
|
1
|
36
|
|
|
12
|
 Fulham F.C
|
27
|
-3
|
35
|
|
|
13
|
 AFC Bournemouth
|
26
|
-12
|
31
|
|
|
14
|
 Crystal Palace
|
27
|
-15
|
28
|
|
|
15
|
 Brentford FC
|
27
|
-11
|
26
|
|
|
16
|
 Everton F.C
|
27
|
-8th
|
25
|
|
|
17
|
 Nottingham forest
|
27
|
-15
|
24
|
|
|
18
|
 Luton town
|
26
|
-17
|
20
|
|
|
19
|
 Burnley F.C
|
27
|
-35
|
13
|
|
|
20
|
 Sheffield United FC
|
27
|
-50
|
13
|
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
