Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope feels the Clarets were ‘tremendous’ in their final nine games with better points per game ratio before lockdown and a top-half finish secured. Pope was within touching of the golden glove, awarded to the goalkeeper with the cleanest sheets throughout the course of the season, only to be pipped by Manchester City stopper Ederson. It has been a fine personal season for Pope, however, establishing himself as undisputed No.1 at Turf Moor and is now in the conversation to have the same standing at international level with England.
Nick Pope said “Ever since the re-start we have been tremendous. Taking that into account, the whole season, the points we’ve got, the performances we’ve put in and we’ve got to be happy. It’s been great and I’m immensely proud of everything; in the dressing room, all the staff and the players. The amount of effort that has gone in, especially with lockdown and Covid and everything we’ve had to deal with – players leaving – and it’s credit to everyone. At the start of the season you don’t set out for that sort of thing. You get to the last weekend and everyone is talking about. It would have been great for it to happen, We have fallen one short but in the grand scheme of things to have 15 (clean sheets) in the league season, you’d take that every time. It’s been a massive team effort. As disappointed as we are (after Brighton), it’s something we should definitely be proud of. We have conceded some good goals. Andy Robertson’s header (at Liverpool) was one of the best headers I’ve seen and Jimenez’s volley (for Wolves) was unbelievable. It’s not been for the want of trying. The lads have been trying every inch, as I knew they would. They have been top-end for me. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
