'Little bit of adversity': Vincent Kompany reflects on Burnley's busy week as Man City opener looms

The Clarets are now back in the UK after playing three challenging games in the space of just seven days on the continent.

Their run of games started with a 2-0 defeat to a KRC Genk side whose season has already begun with a Champions League qualifier.

Off the back of that, Kompany’s side beat Portuguese champions Benfica 2-0 before playing out a feisty 1-1 draw with Real Betis.

Reflecting on a busy week for his men, Kompany told the club’s official website: “We put ourselves in the situation where we wanted to have a little bit of adversity. I think we played against tough opponents.

"Top six in Spain (Betis), best team in Portugal and quarter finalists of the Champions League (Benfica), add to that the heat, integrating new players and travelling.

“We wanted to put ourselves in a situation where we would build up resilience. I think we got exactly that out of it.

“All things considered we have to be ready for the first game of the season and we’re still on that way.”

Burnley now have just 11 days to go until they make their return to the Premier League with the toughest challenge possible, an opening game against reigning champions Manchester City.

Before that, the Clarets still have one friendly left to play on Saturday when they face Bundesliga side Mainz out in Germany.

During that game they’ll be looking to build on their promising display against Betis on Friday, in what was an eventful game in Huelva – both sides finishing the game with 10 men.

“The result could have gone our way but we saw some good things,” Kompany said on the game.

“Technically this game was difficult because of the state of the pitch, but that was the case for both teams.

“It was unfortunate with the sending off of both players. But you’re looking for the effort, you’re looking for a good defensive performance and on top of that, players who are still willing to attack and I think it was there.”