KOMPANY WILL NOT BITE HIS TONGUE ON REFS
VINCENT Kompany doesn’t care if he is fined after claiming the standard of refereeing “hasn’t been good enough this season”.
Kompany was sent off at Chelsea for disputing Lorenz Assignon’s red card and penalty.
Kompany acknowledges officials are under more scrutiny because of the introduction of VAR, but feels standards have slipped this season.
And he says he has no “issues” if he is fined for his criticism.
“I’ll keep saying what I think, I’m not shying away from it and I’ve said it to the referees themselves, refereeing hasn’t been good enough this season,” said the Burnley boss.
“I’ve said that in a constructive way, understanding the fact it’s not easy for them, the scrutiny is massive, the pressure is bigger than it’s ever been on the officials.
“The addition of VAR and more opinions and more officials, doesn’t make it easy for them to do their jobs.
“But I came into this country and I said it as well at the beginning of last season that English refereeing was the best in the world. Always.
Sense
“I felt common sense was always trying to be applied. You make a mistake and we all have a laugh about it and usually the traditional view is that it all evens itself out over the course of a season.
“This year, I haven’t felt like this. Where we are in the league doesn’t really matter for me, it’s not in that conversation.
“It’s just when I draw on my years of experience, there’s a lack of consistency and there’s probably a little reflection needed to make sure we improve the standards in our game.
“I’m not afraid to say that. I remember I saw the interview of my colleague, Chris Wilder, who I’m fond of and who I really respect, and he said he’s a hard-working
Yorkshireman and he doesn’t want to be fined any more.
“I haven’t got any issues with being fined. I just want it to be right. It’s not something I say in a vindictive way, you can see I’m not even as angry anymore. We’ve just got to get it right and at this moment, it’s fallen short.”
Burnley’s 10 men produced their best display of the season to draw 2-2 at Chelsea and they are just four points below the safety line after taking five points from their last three games.
Season
Kompany wants them to seize their chance ahead of tonight’s clash with Wolves at Turf Moor.
“All we’re asking is to have an opportunity,” he said. “So if between now and the end of the season, we have just one opportunity, that’s enough for us.”
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil says Matheus Cunha (inset) has turned into a phone pest — such is his desperation to return.
The striker, who has been sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury, has been working overtime — not just to prove his fitness but giving O’Neil welcome earache.
“I think we’ll see Matheus,” said the Wolves boss. “He was knocking my door down to be involved in the Aston Villa game but we had to make sure it was right for him.
“Obviously, we’ve had a setback or two from injuries this season. The medical information is that he shouldn’t quite be ready yet.
“But Matheus looks ready and is telling me that he’s ready — he rang me about four times between 9.3010pm, telling me how ready he is.
“He will definitely be in the matchday squad, he’s miles ahead of schedule.”