MX23RW : Friday, January 10 06:53:58| >> :120:21352:21352:

Sean Dyche: 'Burnley must keep moving forward'

Dyche: 'Burnley must keep moving forward'
© SilverHub
Burnley manager Sean Dyche hopes to build on this season's impressive Premier League campaign, but acknowledges that it will be tough to finish in the top seven again.

Sean Dyche has claimed that Burnley can still improve on this season's finish, but admits that it will be a lot more difficult to break into the top seven next time around.

The Clarets look certain to finish in at least seventh place following Saturday's 2-1 win over Leicester City, leaving them nine points ahead of their closest rivals with five games to go.

Burnley's reward for a top-six finish is likely to be a place in next season's Europa League, unless Southampton pull off a big shock by winning the FA Cup, and Dyche hopes that there is still more to come from his side.

"I think there are lots of different ways to move this club forward. But I'm not naive - you're judged on what goes on on the pitch," he told ESPN. "Equally, it is very, very difficult to break into that top six or even the top seven. I'd be surprised if Everton don't continue to invest. They've had a bit of an anomaly season, so they'll be stronger going forward.

"Some other teams have had a strange season and they may also be stronger going forwards, so we don't take anything for granted. But there is a way that you can move clubs forward. It is not just with results, although I know that getting those is my job, but there is lots more scope to move forward.

"There has to be flexibility because I'd be lying to you if I said, five-and-a-half years ago, we'd be having this conversation about being in Europe and being in the Premier League for a fourth out of five seasons, after having two promotions.

"I never said it, but did I think we could improve the club five and a half seasons ago? Yes. Did I envisage that we could move the club forward? Yes. Although to what level, was undecided. It's a similar situation now."

Burnley could yet finish in sixth place, as Arsenal directly above them are only two points better off.

ID:323853: cacheID:323853:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2762:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Claude Puel in charge of Leicester City on December 9, 2017
Read Next:
Puel: 'Burnley a must-win game'
>
Read more about Sean Dyche Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!