Keith Andrews shouldn’t be notably serious about turning into Arsenal’s unlikely hero however Brentford’s fearless strategy has created a facet absolutely satisfied they’ll affect the Premier League title race.
Manchester Metropolis have little margin for error when Brentford arrive on Saturday night, stay on Sky Sports activities, with Arsenal supporters desperately hoping the guests can land a dangerous blow on Pep Guardiola’s facet.
However Brentford have ambitions of their very own. A primary-ever European qualification stays inside attain and that, quite than the rest, is what drives Andrews.
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“The narrative around last week’s game was all around West Ham and the fight to stay in the league,” he tells Sky Sports activities. “I was pretty firm then that I don’t really care about that, to be blunt.
“I care about us and what we’re attempting to do and it is comparable this weekend. I clearly know the impact that it might have, the consequence whichever approach it goes, however we have our personal agenda to care for.”
However what precisely will give Arsenal supporters hope of a title-defining upset on the Etihad Stadium?
“The edge that we play with I really, really like,” says Andrews. “I like watching us. I actually like watching us.
“We’re a team that respects the opposition, respects the level, respects what you need to do to get results in the league. But equally we have this feel of we will go toe-to-toe with any team in the league.
“We’re in a good run of type. We’re enjoying fairly properly. We’re nonetheless enjoying with a variety of power and character, which I like. And we’re simply beginning to get one or two gamers again in to assist the core gamers which have carried out actually, very well over the previous few weeks when the squad has been a tad gentle.”
Keith Andrews (proper) is aiming to derail Pep Guardiola’s title bid
Sometimes for Brentford, although, a lot of the surface focus stays on their opponents quite than themselves.
“We don’t really need to shout things from the rooftop, I don’t think the club ever has and I quite like that,” says Andrews, who has quietly and impressively taken the west London membership to the brink of membership historical past.
“We just like to go about our business in a pretty understated way in a league where we want to be really ambitious and go to places like Man City and show real bravery.”
Excellent timing, then, with three matches remaining to take the membership the place it has by no means been earlier than regardless of a summer season of main change. “We’re in a scenario where a lot of people wouldn’t have felt we would be,” says the pinnacle coach that was overseeing set items this time final 12 months.
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Pep Guardiola says all Manchester Metropolis can do is win their video games to maintain the strain on Arsenal forward of their recreation towards Brentford.
Andrews began the season because the bookmakers’ favorite to be the primary Premier League supervisor sacked. A 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on the opening day solely shortened these odds, but Brentford have steadily grown stronger ever since.
“As painful as it was, I could quickly put that in a box because I realised where we were at that stage of the journey.
“There was a lot change in the summertime. A bit of little bit of uncertainty round how the season would go.
“I was pretty confident that we could have a successful season and strive towards something. But the players deserve so much credit for their approach towards everything which I have done and the way they’ve embraced the league, the way we have formed as a new team. It’s been really impressive.”
The affect of his striker Igor Thiago with 22 league targets and solely behind Man Metropolis’s Erling Haaland within the scoring charts has been enormous. The Brazilian could fall in need of the golden boot in his first full season however for him to “be in this conversation highlights to everybody what a special season he’s had”.
Andrews describes his first season as head coach as a “constant learning curve” however what as soon as appeared like a probably punishing marketing campaign now carries the opportunity of turning into an historic one.
Questions on Europe could have began to turn into repetitive for Andrews, however they’re a measure of how far they’ve come.
“There’s three tough games left but the fact that everybody keeps asking me about that is obviously a nice thing and we can still achieve something pretty special.
“I am happy with the journey we have been on as a crew as a result of for me we’re the essence of a crew. The end result for us is at all times the sum of our elements, not one particular person, not one member of employees, not one participant.”
Whether or not they find yourself shaping Arsenal’s title hopes or making historical past for themselves, Andrews’ Brentford have already established precisely what they’re about.
Watch Man Metropolis vs Brentford on Saturday Night time Soccer stay on Sky Sports activities, kick-off 5.30pm
