No cash to Burn for Vin
MAN UTD v LIVERPOOL
the captain is overrated. Adams certainly didn’t think so.
He saw motivating his teammates as an essential part of his role.
Back in 1998, Arsenal had a long bus journey back to London from a game against Barnsley.
Straight
Adams saw this as an opportunity. He moved from his usual seat to sit beside Dennis Bergkamp and gave it to the Dutchman straight.
“You’ve been here two-and-ahalf years now, Dennis, isn’t it about time you won something?,’’ said Adams.
“It would be a shame not to, with your ability.”
Arsenal ended that season with the league and FA Cup double – with Bergkamp playing a starring role in their surge for silverware.
Adams had that drive and bloody-mindedness that we associate with the greatest captains.
He was to Arsenal what van Dijk is to Liverpool now.
One of the main reasons why Liverpool took a great leap forward under Jurgen Klopp was the way the Dutchman transformed a leaky defence.
But, in the summer of 2017, Southampton refused to let him move to Anfield.
Liverpool had Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich and Aymeric Laporte, then at Athletic Bilbao and later at Manchester City, as options on their wishlist if they didn’t get van Dijk.
But, even though he was under pressure to sign a centre-half, Klopp opted to wait until the next transfer window to get his man.
TOP OF THE KOPS: Mo Salah (left), Jurgen Klopp (centre) and Virgil van Dijk
How wise a move does that look now?
The on-field leader should be able to carry the culture of the team onto the field.
The culture of the team is established by the manager and represents the principles under which the squad operates — from tactics to team rules.
This culture creates team chemistry, a huge part of success in any team sport.
So an on-field leader needs to be respected as a person and a player — though not necessarily the most popular.
There’s an art and a craft to captaincy.
Klopp has a squad that is full of players who captain their national teams but he knew that the heir apparent to Henderson was a no brainer.
He’s already lifted one trophy, you can be sure he wants more.
KEANE AND ABLE: Ferguson and skipper Keane
BURNLEY boss Vincent Kompany refused to discuss the club’s finances before Saturday’s crunch clash at Premier League relegation rivals Everton.
The Clarets have announced losses of €32.5million for the year ending July 31, 2023, in their latest accounts following relegation at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Kompany’s side are six points from safety with seven games remaining and a second top-flight relegation in three years would further strain the club financially.
When asked how the club’s losses would affect him - from a football perspective - Kompany said: “You’re asking me this - it’s a three-game week and in 48 hours we’ve got one of the most important games of the season.
“What benefit is that to me to start talking to you about the accounts of the club?
Control
“The only thing I can tell you is, do we look worried, like we’ve lost control and calmness? We don’t.
“Let me focus on the Everton game right now, that’s what matters.”
Second-bottom Burnley are unbeaten in their last four matches and are bidding to close the gap on Everton, who are three places and seven points better off.
Kompany, who guided the Clarets straight back to the Premier League in his first season in charge, was asked how relegation would affect the club’s medium and long-term plans.
“We’re not going to talk about that right now,” the Belgian said. “I don’t know what to say, I don’t think about it right now.
“I’ve told you many times since January, those are the discussions we have mid-season and the beginning of the season, not when we have seven games left and still everything to play for.”