Burnley manager Sean Dyche insisted that he is focused on the Premier League even if he is not downplaying the club’s Europa League adventure.
Burnley is preparing to travel to Scotland for the first leg of their second qualifying round match against Aberdeen on July 26, and Dyche spoke about the challenge of readying his squad for the club’s first European fixture in more than 50 years while ensuring domestic football took priority. Burnley finished seventh last term and they kick of the new league season with a trip to Southampton on August 12, by which time they may be part-way through the third round of Europa League qualifiers.
“It’s a strange thing about the psyche because it’s a tremendous thing for Burnley football club to be in Europe,” Dyche told Clarets Player HD. It’s not there to be taken lightly and we won’t be doing that, but it has to be balanced against the Premier League because that’s the bread and butter of what we’re about. You can go back into that debate of downplaying cups, but it’s nothing to do with that. The fact is the Premier League is our bread and butter, but alongside that, the first time in Europe in 51 years means we are looking forward to that as well.”