Exclusive Interview
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It is crunch time in the Premier League. Whether it is Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, or Burnley, they all have the same goal: to avoid relegation. One player that has been a significant factor for Burnley is Danish forward Jacob Bruun Larsen, who recently caught up with our colleagues at Transfermarkt.de. On loan from Hoffenheim, Bruun Larsen has become a significant factor in the relegation battle. Together with Zeki Amdouni, the 25-year-old Dane leads Burnley with six goals scored across all competitions. What has changed? “For me, it is the first time that I am truly healthy and can finally tap into my full potential,” Bruun Larsen said to Transfermarkt.
Indeed, Bruun Larsen has become an important player for Burnley. One example? On matchday 29, the Danish winger stepped up to score from the spot against Brentford. The opening goal of the game paved the way for a 2-1 victory and three massive points in the relegation battle. Burnley hadn’t won a game in ten matches, and it looked like the club would head to certain relegation. That situation has now improved significantly. Although Burnley are still in the relegation zone, the gap to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest has shrunk to just two points.
“Since the winter break, the coaching staff has worked very hard with every single player to avoid relegation,” Bruun Larsen said. “When you look at our matches, then you can tell that something has come together. We are more consistent, have a better mentality, and there is a general belief that we can stay in the league. Altogether, the entire infrastructure around the club is really good, and that impacts the whole team positively.”
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The Danish winger joined Burnley on loan after two complicated years at Hoffenheim whom he joined from Borussia Dortmund in a €9m deal in 2020. The goal at Hoffenheim was to become a consistent Bundesliga player, but fitness and constant coaching changes meant that Bruun Larsen never managed to fulfill his potential. That has changed in England. The Dane opted to join Burnley because of manager Vincent Kompany, with whom he had good experiences while on loan at Anderlecht in 2021.
Although Bruun Larsen first struggled at the start of the season, the winger has slowly but surely become one of the top players at Burnley. Bruun Larsen has scored six goals across all competitions, and his abilities in one-v-one situations, his dribbling, acceleration, tempo, and variability have become essential for the team. All those improvements are the result of hard work. “I reflect more now than I did a few years ago,” Bruun Larsen said when asked about his improvements. “I know that to be successful, I must seek expert advice. I now work together with my own cook, athletic trainer, and mentality trainer. I pay more attention to little things like getting the right sleep. I have realized that if I want to be at a top level, then every small nuance has to be considered. Another big factor is the trust I have received from Kompany. He knows my strengths and uses them the right way. I now have the freedom on the wing to play the way I want. That is something I need to be at my best.”
Bruun Larsen hopes that his performances are enough to bring himself into consideration of Danish national team head coach Kasper Hjulmand for the Euro 2024 squad. “When you play football, one of your goals is to represent your national team at a European Championship or World Cup,” Bruun Larsen said. “Of course, it would be a dream come true to be part of the team this summer. But first, my focus is on Burnley and the relegation battle.” Burnley will face first Newcastle United, then travel to Tottenham before seeing out the season against Nottingham Forest on May 19. That fixture at Turf Moor could become the all-decisive final in the relegation battle (compare every team’s final fixtures).
Interview: Henrik Stadnischenko Translation: Manuel Veth