How are Brentford speculated to survive within the Premier League after shedding high scorers Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, captain Christian Norgaard and head coach Thomas Frank this summer time?
Some critics have been writing Brentford, and their new head coach Keith Andrews, off earlier than a ball had been kicked.
“I don’t hear anything, if I’m being entirely honest. I don’t need to hear anything. I don’t need to read anything,” Andrews, who was promoted from his position because the membership’s set piece coach, informed Sky Sports activities.
“I understand the narrative and even if I were someone externally not understanding what goes on in the building, I might be of the same opinion as some of these people who have that opinion of us.
“However I am so assured in the way in which this membership is wired, proper from the highest. There is a motive this membership has bought to the place it is bought to and that is by way of good folks making very, superb choices and never simply primarily based on the brief time period.”
Brentford’s summer time of change has, no doubt, made this season their greatest problem since arriving within the Premier League.
“Naturally, with that, it just takes a little bit of time for things to come together,” Andrews stated forward of going through Chelsea on Saturday, stay on Sky Sports activities. “How you work as a group and how we form a new team, because essentially that’s what it is.”
Andrews’ introduction to life as a head coach has already include its checks. A 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest, a last-gasp defeat at Sunderland and the Wissa switch saga has made it a difficult begin.
“Every manager I’ve ever spoken to, every course I’ve ever been on has alluded to you can never quite get ready for what’s coming. I felt like I did as much as I could, but they were right. It’s a lot.”
There was pleasure, although. A victory in his first house recreation over Aston Villa and progress within the Carabao Cup at Bournemouth was the proper response to their Forest defeat. There have been positives in new signing Dango Ouattara scoring his first aim and striker Igor Thiago netting three in 4 video games.
“I’m very proud of what the group has achieved over the last couple of months, where there’s been a lot of change around staff, players,” stated Andrews.
“The reality is we’ve lost some key players. But I’m very, very confident in the players that we already have in the building.
“I feel we’re in a extremely good place and I simply really feel like most individuals do not know that.”
Andrews was Frank’s surprise replacement, his first role as head coach after stints with MK Dons, Ireland and Sheffield United following a playing career at the highest level. It was a shock even to him.
“Did I anticipate this degree of job to be my first? No, not realistically in any respect. However I really feel very snug in it.
“I’ve loved it. I’ve absolutely loved it. I’ve worked a long time to get to this point in my career.”
What has stood out in his first weeks is simply how relentless the job might be. “You get pulled in a lot of different directions.”
Dealing with defeats, too, requires a brand new mindset. “You have to allow emotions to dictate the way you’re feeling, but in a controlled way because ultimately you’re the head coach. It’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to be angry. It’s how you convey that.”
If there may be stress from exterior, Andrews does not really feel it. “What happens inside the building, inside the inner circle, is the most important thing,” he stated. “Recruiting good people, hungry players, I think is a key aspect. The environment that’s created is very supportive, very inclusive, demanding – but it’s quite special and unique.”
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That collective spirit will likely be examined this weekend towards Chelsea, a membership that operates in a completely totally different monetary world. Andrews doesn’t shrink back from the distinction however retains the idea in his group.
“Very good side. Well-coached, well-drilled, talented individuals. They’ve spent a lot of money and they’re world champions. We’re very understanding of the challenges they will pose. But equally, we’re pretty confident we can pose them a lot of challenges.”
Brentford’s power has all the time come from readability of goal, sensible decision-making and an unwavering perception of their id – not the scale of their funds.
“For me, there’s not a lot of common sense in football,” stated Andrews. “In a lot of environments, everybody wants short-term success. But our fans… they appreciate the journey this club has been on and is still on. They’re not complacent about where we are and what we need to do collectively to stay at this level and continue to strive and not just survive.”
