Burnley’s Josh Cullen claims their slow start back in the Premier League is due to tough opening fixtures – NOT the 13 new players signed by Vincent Kompany

Burnley’s unfortunate start to the season is down to the Premier League squad and not the thirteen players Vincent Kompany signed in the transfer window.

It’s no fault of The Clarets that they face Aston Villa on Sunday, still looking for their first point. Their only match to date was a thankless task against Treble winners Manchester City, with last week’s visit to Luton postponed due to stadium works at Kenilworth Road.

So, already two games behind most clubs in this morning’s fledgling Premier League, there is a sense that Burnley’s season is starting in earnest at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon.

Josh Cullen, who first played for Kompany at Anderlecht and captained City against City, is trying to see the positives in his side’s delayed return, despite some players already reporting on pre-season in early June.

He notes that the team also had a rough start last season, but still won the championship with 101 points.

“It was strange to have a break after the first game. But it’s good because with a lot of new faces it won’t hurt us if we have more time to gel,’ says Cullen.

That being said, we look forward to appearing again in front of our fans. It’s been a long few weeks since the City game and we’re all eager to get back to work.

“Last year we learned that you can’t pay attention to the rankings at this stage. We only played one game against the champions and ended up on the wrong side. No matter how many games others have played, we will make up the games.

“After the first five games of last season, we were only 15th in the Championship after drawing 3-3 at home to Blackpool.

“The manager was here on his first season and a lot of people on the outside were panicking about whether he was the right one or whether we had brought in the right players. And look how it went.’

Cullen was born in Essex and grew up with the support of West Ham. He was with the club from the age of 9 to 24, but the midfielder’s path to the first team has been blocked by the formidable presence of Declan Rice.

A successful loan spell at Charlton then led to a career-changing approach from Anderlecht, where he teamed up with Kompany, a rookie manager at the time. When the Belgian took over at Turf Moor he quickly called on Cullen to follow him.

‘It was a bit of a coincidence to hear that Anderlecht were interested. You don’t think that’s planned,” Cullen acknowledged. ‘I still don’t really know how he found out about me – I never asked him! – but I imagine his scouting network is meticulous.

“To go to such a huge club with that control and pressure, a big name in European football, was great for my development.

“I didn’t expect to follow the manager to Burnley but I knew I had played a lot of games for him and he trusted me. When the call came, I was happy to come.

“One of the biggest compliments I can give him is that it doesn’t change for him whether we win 3-0 or lose 3-0.

“Monday or Tuesday we’ll be back in the conference room, going through all the good and bad, where we can improve. That never ends.

“He sees the bigger picture instead of a rollercoaster of emotions whether we win or lose. It’s one of his huge strengths and gives us a lot of confidence as players. He makes us calm in the moment.’

Kompany arrived just as the team that had established Burnley in the Premier League broke up with the likes of Nick Pope, Dwight McNeil, Ben Mee and James Tarkowski.

The former Manchester City captain gambled on a series of new signings and won promotion under loan striker Nathan Tella.

Tella has left again with City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, so a further 13 new players have arrived at Turf Moor, the £14 million England under-20 international Aaron Ramsey from Aston Villa, the latest signing on Monday.

The club’s transfer record was broken by £19 million Swiss striker Zeki Amdouni from Basel, while goalkeeper James Trafford, an England winner of the Under-21 European Championship, has joined from City.

Cullen grew up in Belgium, life in a new country wasn’t always easy during the pandemic, and Anderlecht had financial problems that prevented them from matching the glory of previous teams.

Kompany in Lancashire is, according to 27-year-old Cullen, the same as Kompany in Brussels.

“He hasn’t changed as a person or his philosophy. I just think the details keep increasing,” he says.

“He tells us as players that his door is always open if we need to talk to him about any topic, football or non-football related. He will try to give us the best advice and be honest with us.’