Burnley boss Kompany issues honest reply to Chelsea interest

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 22 Apr 2023 19:22 BST
• 3 min read

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has insisted that his only focus remains on the Clarets, despite reported interest from Premier League giants Chelsea.

Kompany, 37, has emerged as a slightly unlikely candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea officials reportedly impressed by his outstanding work at Burnley this season.

The former Anderlecht manager has guided the Clarets to promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and the Championship title is within their grasp too. Burnley need just three points in their final three games to clinch top spot ahead of Sheffield United, who are set to finish second.

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Burnley have scored the second-most goals in the division, behind only Middlesbrough, while they boast the best defensive record in the Championship, with just 34 goals conceded.

Chelsea's search for a new permanent head coach has been well publicised, with the Blues board currently undergoing a rigorous assessment of the candidates for the role.

Former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann was heavily linked with the job, but he is reportedly no longer in contention. According to reports, Kompany is joined by Mauricio Pochettino and current Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou on the shortlist.

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Frank Lampard, who was appointed as interim manager at Chelsea after Graham Potter was sacked in early April, is unlikely to be given the role permanently. Chelsea have so far lost all four games with Lampard in charge.

Despite interest from a Premier League giant, Kompany has stressed that he is not paying attention to rumours linking him with a move to Stamford Bridge.

What has Kompany said?

The former Manchester City defender spoke after his side's 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and was asked whether interest from Chelsea was a distraction.

He replied: "I said I’m not engaging on any of these conversations. I have too much at this moment in time in my head in terms of wanting to win football matches. That’s the only thing I care about."

Kompany has also attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur, who are also looking for a new permanent head coach after Antonio Conte was sacked in March. Christian Stellini has been in interim charge since Conte was removed from his post.