Burnley boss Vincent Kompany believes he has improved as a manager this season more than ever before, despite his side's struggles.
The Clarets appear doomed to relegation after only one season back in the Premier League following Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
It has been a thoroughly-miserable campaign, with 11 defeats from 14 games at home and only 13 points picked up from 27 games, leaving them 11 points adrift of safety.
But Kompany believes his players will learn a lot from the experience, saying: "That's when you progress most. Every book says it. It's just really rough to be in it. But that's why you get better.
"The absurdity of this job is I probably feel I've improved more this year than I ever have in my life but, because you're judged by results, you're probably not having to tell this story until you're back having your wins. These moments are useful, they're just not nice."
Sunday's match encapsulated Burnley's shortcomings, with the Clarets managing 20 efforts on goal but rarely looking likely to score, while Justin Kluivert's opener came from a simple ball over the top.
In their last three games, Kompany's side have conceded 10 goals and scored none, but he was happy to see positive signs following last weekend's 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.
"There isn't a miracle recipe," he said. "The thing is to keep faith in your players. I said to them, I can fully put my name to this performance and I can fully be accountable for every aspect of it, the failures and the positives.
"It was more difficult for us as a group to accept the Crystal Palace performance. The side of scoring a goal or keeping the ball out of the net, it's really as simple as believing the players will turn the corner, will be able to do it."
Bournemouth had also been on a poor run and the victory moves them 11 points clear of the bottom three.
Boss Andoni Iraola does not yet believe they have done enough to secure their safety, though, and the Cherries now face a key month where they take on Sheffield United, Everton, Palace and Luton twice.
He said: "Our performance will determine where you are looking (in the table). We play Luton twice this month, it could be dangerous because, if you lose, they take six points from you. Or you win and you say, 'OK, that's it'.
"They are important games but we'll continue doing the same things. We play now Sheffield, we have to win at home.
"At home we haven't been as good as we have been away. I think now we play two important games at home and I think we have to focus there before the (international) break."
