How Burnley boss Sean Dyche got his priorities in order

David Luiz meant it as an insult, labelling the Clarets “anti-football” after Sean Dyche’s side rattled Chelsea with a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

There was plenty of controversy back on April 22 but it was fine night for the visitors and almost summed up their improvements as they moved clear of danger in 2019 meaning that headline-grabber from the Brazilian has quickly become something of a badge of honour.

The point in West London helped make sure of a fourth straight season in the Premier League which despite any criticisms about their style of play, is the be all and end all at Turf Moor.

For Sean Dyche that comes far above any talk of trying to conform to what is deemed as the accepted way to go about things.

“First things first with Burnley Football Club, staying in the Premier League is a massive, massive thing,” said the Clarets boss.

“It is for any club, but certainly for what it means here.

“What it means to the players, the team, the staff, the staff and team’s lives by the way - because you don’t just get paid a fortune all the time, you have to earn that.

“Then, going into the town, the people, it means a hell of a lot.

“So we have to find a way of making it work, because it means so much.

“I’ve been really pleased with that, not getting pushed in other directions, staying focused on the job in hand.

“No matter what anyone says, you have to win games, or certainly enough games, to be deemed successful at whatever level of the market you’re at.”

The reality of the matter was that after the crushing 5-1 home defeat against Everton on Boxing Day, the Clarets were three points from safety.

It was then that Burnley started to look more like the side that had upset their odds on the way to seventh in the table and a Europa League spot.

Going back to basics is something that Dyche makes no apologies for.

What had looked like being a relegation battle soon became the Clarets securing survival with time to spare.

That show of character, resilience and belief in the work that is being done behind the scenes at Turf Moor is something Dyche has regularly spoken of his pride in.

“I think injuries, mixed with ups and downs in form, mixed with having to change the side a lot affected us in some way, and it’s then you’ve got to find a way of being productive first,” he said.

“People question how you play.

“Up until Christmas last year, I think it’s fair to say a lot of people thought we were playing exciting football, at least good football, and in this modern world of ‘the right way’, it does help when you have a fully-fit squad, when you have players playing very well, and if you haven’t, do you just lie down and go ‘oh well, we’ll just not bother and lose’.

“No, you look at an effective way that can change your season, and I think we’ve done that well.

“Outside this building, we don’t listen to too much of the opinion and noise, because you get bogged down with it.”

More than anything Dyche believes how he approaches things is simply pragmatic.

He tries to play to his players’ strengths, more recently 4-4-2 with a physical front two in Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, but insists that isn’t belittling their abilities one bit.

By way of evidence the Clarets boss points to the players who have left the club for ever-increasing sums during his more than six-and-a-half years in charge.

England defender Michael Keane stands as the record sale after his £30 million move to Everton in July 2017.

Andre Gray left for Watford shortly afterwards for a fee north of £18 million while Danny Ings, to Liverpool, and Kieran Trippier, to Tottenham, both moved on after showing just how good they can be at Turf Moor.

“If you are at a club with a different skill set, would you use their skills? Of course you would,” Dyche said.

“I’d take my players all day, but their skill set has to be used wisely, to be productive and win games.

“The irony is, look at the players we’ve had in and moved on for absolute fortunes.

“They must be learning something, how are they going on to all these big clubs and delivering performances.”