Burnley interim head coach Mike Jackson don talk about di team current situation as dem prepare to face Aston Villa for Turf Moor dis Sunday. Jackson, wey replace Scott Parker after Burnley relegation don confam, say e dey try to get di players motivated for di remaining matches.
E say, “A bit emotional at the start of di week. We just have to get on with am, be professional, respect di competition we dey, find a way of getting di lads going and getting some energy around di place. E don be a good week.”
Jackson tok say e know say di situation hard, but e remind everybody say dem dey privileged to play football. “E don tough but there be plenty things out here tougher dan dis. Dis week na about reconnecting, getting some energy and identity back in and start working hard again.”
Di coach also praise Aston Villa after dem win Europa League semi-final against Freiburg. “After di result last night e go bring some confidence back into di team. Aston Villa be very good team, very well coached. Dem don improve year-on-year. I enjoy watching dem play. Dem get good style of play and dem be very good at wetin dem dey do.”
Jackson admit say Burnley performance for home don fall hand. “Let’s be honest, we no don be good enough at home dis season. Di supporters deserve more from us but we really need dem and we owe dem. For us at home to try and create some intensity, be on di front foot and make a game of am we need dem. We want to finish di season in a positive way.”
E also talk about Ben Mee, former Burnley captain wey announce retirement dis week. “Ben Mee was incredible for Burnley, e be di captain of di group we get. I wish am all di best for im retirement but no doubt we go see am somewhere around for coaching. If e put as much into dat as e do for playing den I sure say e go be very successful.”
Meanwhile, Aston Villa dey come into dis game wit high confidence after dem qualify for Europa League final. Dem beat Freiburg 4-0 for di second leg to overturn a 1-0 first leg defeat. Di win mean say Villa go face Freiburg again for May 20 final.
Villa currently dey fifth for Premier League table, six points clear of Bournemouth wit three games to go. Dem dey fight to secure Champions League football for next season. Dem get record of five wins and three draws for nine matches against relegated teams dis season, though dem lose to Burnley for May 2015.
For Burnley side, dem don lose five matches in a row for league and dem get only one win for dia last 26 top-flight matches. Di team go miss injured players like Josh Cullen, Connor Roberts, and Jordan Beyer. But dem go get Martin Dubravka for goal, wey don make 127 saves dis season.
Aston Villa go without Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana, and Alysson due to injury. But dem fit rest some key players like John McGinn and Ollie Watkins after dia Europa League exertions. Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham fit start for dem.
Di match go be tough test for Burnley as dem dey try to give dia fans something to cheer for di final home game of di season. But Villa go dey determined to take all three points to boost dia Champions League hopes.
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