Dyche: Burnley can not take 'top side' Man City for granted

Burnley boss Sean Dyche insists Manchester City remain a quality side despite all of their struggles on the domestic front this season.

Sean Dyche says his side will not take Manchester City likely and still treat them as a top side when both sides meet.

Burnley travel to the Etihad to take on Manchester City on Saturday for their next Premier League outing and it could yet be an ‘open’ tie.

By usual standards, City should be expected to stroll over their opponents but their form in the League says otherwise.

After nine games played, City find themselves in a rather surprising 13th position with just two wins from their last five domestic outings.

That could give Sean Dyche and company hope to claim a result at the Etihad coming off the back of a win against Crystal Palace on Monday.

However, the Clarets boss is not looking at City’s form and still believes they are a top side that remain a force to reckon with.

Dyche said as quoted by Yahoo Sport: “Last season they had some injuries, which, in a strange kind of way, it was quite good to see that even players and teams at that level, injuries can affect a working unit.”

“I still think they’re a proper outfit. I think it was more the prowess of Liverpool (last season). I never thought for one minute Man City were bad or off where they needed to be, they just couldn’t quite go the course as Liverpool did.”

“They’re still a top side, still operating in a very, very good manner. They all know their roles and responsibilities, both in possession and out of possession.”

Despite the apparent praise given, Dyche says his side will go to the Etihad with the hopes of snatching a positive result.

He continued: “People forget about the work that they do and the shape that they keep when they’re out of possession. It’s always a tough task playing these sides, we know that. On the other hand, we go open-minded. Every game is there to be won.”