Burnley manager Vincent Kompany is relishing Wednesday night's Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, insisting he wants his players to try and test themselves.
Kompany, who spent 11 years at Manchester City as a player, took charge at Turf Moor during the summer following the Clarets' relegation from the Premier League and currently has them sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table. Saturday's 3-1 win over Middlesbrough ensured they will occupy top spot for Christmas.
The Clarets, who saw off Shrewsbury Town and Crawley Town in the earlier rounds to book a date with United, have lost just two of their opening 25 games under the Belgian in all competitions, meaning he has made an unimaginable impact. They are only three points shy of the 50-point mark at the halfway point of the Championship campaign.
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Scoring goals for fun in recent weeks, the Clarets have imposed themselves on teams and put them on the back-foot, meaning they promise to offer a stern test for United, who came unstuck the last time they faced Championship opposition, losing to Middlesbrough on penalties in the fourth round of the FA Cup last season. And for Kompany, who faced the Reds 24 times during his playing career, he is keen to see his side embrace the challenge.
"I think for us it gives us the chance to measure ourselves against some of the best and see how close we are," said Kompany, as quoted by Lancs Live. "It's a game we want to perform in and improve in and measure where we're at, so we'll treat it like all the other games.
"That in itself is more exciting for me, more than the fact we're going to Old Trafford, it will be a test and we look forward to it. For me, it's going to be about discovering how close or how far we are, everything else around it will be what it is."
Burnley, who have lost each of their last two visits to Old Trafford 3-1, are one of just two Championship sides left in the Carabao Cup this season. Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers are the other club and they are also in action on Wednesday evening against Premier League opposition, hosting Nottingham Forest.
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