Exceptional Esteve primed to take centre stage on Burnley’s Premier League return

The consistently exceptional performances of Maxime Esteve were a crucial factor towards Burnley’s impressive promotion back to the Premier League.

Such an instrumental figure in Burnley conceding just 16 goals in their 46 Championship games, the masterful Frenchman was rightfully crowned Burnley’s Player of the Season and named in the Championship team of the year alongside excellent central defensive partner CJ Egan-Riley and sensational goalkeeper James Trafford to cap off his phenomenal campaign.

Arguably the finest defender in the league and in with a shout for the Championship’s best player award, which ultimately went to Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer, Esteve’s been a real rock at the back for Scott Parker’s side.

Showing tremendous leadership and composure, the 22-year-old’s dominant and imperious displays have seen him shine in and out of possession in the fiercely competitive and demanding English second tier.

A major asset with the ball at his feet and so integral to bringing Parker’s philosophy to life, there’s been much to admire about his passing, ball-carrying and positioning.

Typically spreading wide to stretch the first line of opposition pressure and forming numerical superiorities with Trafford and Egan-Riley, this has given Burnley a formidable platform to control and dictate matches.

Accurate, weighting his passes nicely and with a great reading of the play to make quality decisions, Esteve’s distribution has been key in getting Burnley up the pitch and feeding their most talented operators in possession.

He’s also shown the clarity of mind and judgement to recycle the ball if the more expansive options aren’t viable. Capable of hitting a range of passing over short, medium and long distances, this means he can notably pinpoint targets with through balls, line-breaking passes and raking switches of play.

Given how effectively Burnley unbalance opponents, this has given Esteve many chances to drive upfield on the dribble to gain territory before drawing out foes to find teammates directly or via third man combinations in the newly created spaces.

Defending with a terrific blend of physicality and intelligence, the way he’s blunted many attacks has been so beneficial for the Clarets being such an impenetrable unit.

Quick to recognise danger and aware of his teammates’ positions, the speedy Esteve attentively and cleverly adjusts his positioning, a trait that has been key to his ability to respond to threats in his designated zone.

Smart to track runners in behind, into the box and when they drop deep, plus provide covering support to his colleagues, opponents are usually monitored closely and rarely given room to execute their actions cleanly.

Assertive in the tackle and when he decides to press, once he commits, he does so with conviction, fully trusting his instincts. Using his long legs and rangy arms, these have proven very helpful to reach in to break up play and impede the momentum of adversaries.

An immense aerial weapon too, the towering stopper anticipates when to challenge and times his leaps accordingly to meet the ball. Handy at winning second balls, clearing danger and exhibiting his worth at set pieces at either end of the pitch, there’s no doubting how important this compartment of his armoury is.

Relishing learning from former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany, who was at the helm when he first arrived at Turf Moor in January of 2024, it’s clear what an influential figure the legendary defender was.

“He gave me some little tips on positioning, on how to defend in certain situations. It saved time and gained me experience. And when you listen to Vincent Kompany’s advice in your position, it’s a godsend for you. What’s more, he’s a coach who didn’t end his career a long time ago. So, in fact, he really manages to put himself in the player’s shoes. And that, I find extremely interesting. He also has great ideas about modern football,” he told Foot Mercato’s Alexandre Chaillol.

Improving enormously since arriving, adapting superbly to life at Burnley and thriving with the responsibility placed on him in the heart of defence, his rise has been outstanding.

Eager to test himself in the Premier League, his words on how much he’s looking forward to the challenge underline his desire and determination to establish himself among the leading defenders in the division.

“I will attack the season with confidence, telling myself that in any case, we all have two arms and two legs. It’s eleven humans against eleven humans. My goal is to become a confirmed Premier League player, so that’s how it has to be. So it’s up to me to show that I’m more than capable of asserting myself and being good in this division, quite simply. It’s an important step for me, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it goes well,” Esteve insisted.

As a result of his fantastic output, it’s hardly surprising he’s attracting plenty of interest, with the likes of AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly keen.

This will be a worry for the Clarets, who will be intent on keeping their star man at the back. But seeing as he’s happy at Burnley and appears set on tackling the EPL once more with the teammates he’s forged such brilliant relationships with, it’d be startling if he jumped ship just yet.

On a distinct upward trajectory and showing no signs of slowing down, expect the man who’s a big fan of Spurs’ Micky van de Ven to continue on his path to the top.

Elegant and making it look easy, Burnley’s Rolls Royce will be captivating to watch next crusade, as his performances will be pivotal towards the Clarets’ survival hopes and his own ambitions of cementing himself as one of the elite defenders in the best league in the world.