Burnley manager Vincent Kompany said he was full of mixed emotions as his side lost 3-2 to high-flying Aston Villa on Saturday night, in a game that saw struggling South African striker Lyle Foster score one and have another ruled out by VAR.
Foster, who has been suffering with mental health issues throughout the season, was left out of the Bafana squad for AFCON so that his treatment can continue, and he looked sharp in front of goal on Saturday.
Despite the loss, which leaves the Clarets second from bottom of the Premier League table, Kompany said he felt happy to see Foster looking solid again.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game he said: “That is the reason why I have a happy feeling after this game. I have frustration and disappointed with the result and some of the things I mentioned but at the same time, we had a real human tragedy almost with Lyle when the kid broke down.
“To see him rebuilding his happiness, to me as a coach, not even a coach but as a human being it is a beautiful story for me to observe.”
Top strike from Lyle Foster, his first goal since his return to the first team. 🇿🇦⚽️ pic.twitter.com/My078HkDgz
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) December 30, 2023
The Belgian manager went on to add: “I’m extremely proud of the team. I always am. The frustration is two-fold, frustrated because you are doing what you need to do in a game like this and come away with something. I feel my understanding of the rules was tested today. I really struggle to reconcile with the things we are told and the things I am seeing in games.
“I have the image of the handball denying us a goalscoring opportunity and I am comparing it with the handball against Forest where we get a goal taken off. I have to sleep past this.
“We manage games a little better now. We are understanding the moments more and we are dangerous. It is in both boxes where we have struggled a bit. Today we got the goals, but I will look forward to being on the training ground and work out the details that can help us going forward.
“If I can wish anything for this team in 2024 is to turn what we did today into one win, two wins etc and keep going,” he said.
