Jack knows the Clarets face a battle at home
Jack Cork knows Scottish football can’t compete financially with the English game, but admits money can’t buy the sort of atmosphere created at Pittodrie last Thursday night.
The Burnley midfielder was impressed by Aberdeen’s performance on the park in the 1- 1 draw, and is worried about them mounting a repeat at Turf Moor in this week’s second leg.
But what really blew him away was the racket created by the supporters around the stadium in the Lancashire club’s first European tie in 51 years.
The former Swansea City and Southampton player has played regularly in all the big English Premier League grounds, but never experienced anything quite like a packed Pittodrie.
Cork said: “I haven’t been involved in too many European games. But the atmosphere in the game you just don’t get in the league in England.
“It was an amazing atmosphere and when they were singing Flower of Scotland it was great.
“When they scored you could tell it would just be a great atmosphere. It was just a good match to play in and be involved in.
“We will have to be on top of our game and, hopefully, the away goal can help us.
“But if Aberdeen play like they did in the first 25 minutes for the whole game at Turf Moor, then it could be a very difficult night for us.
“Aberdeen have got the European experience and we are new to it, so that could be an advantage perhaps so we will have to get used to it quickly.”
Bur nley may have finished seventh in the richest league in the world last season, but they looked second best for long spells of the Europa League first- leg tie.
It took a late goal from Sam Vokes for them to salvage a draw from a game most expected them to win easily. But Cork insists they didn’t treat Aberdeen lightly.
He added: “We did know it was going to be a tough night. We knew they had good quality and good players because we watched a lot of their videos.
“They gave West Brom a good game last week, too, so there was definitely no coming into it thinking it was going to be easy.
“We didn’t think just because we are Premier League and with the money we have got it would be easy for us.
“Our manager wouldn’t let us be like that. We showed Aberdeen plenty of respect and I think that showed.
“There’s still another three weeks until our season starts, so Aberdeen are a little bit ahead of us. But it shouldn’t make that much of a difference, but it was a tough game.”