Keith andrews
Keith Andrews, who took over as Brentford’s head coach last summer, has been making waves in his first senior managerial role. Following the departure of Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, Andrews has guided the club with a steady hand, even extending his contract until 2032 after a promising start. Recently, he faced the challenge of going up against seasoned manager David Moyes, a task he relished.
Keith Andrews said: “It’s a brilliant challenge, every week. I’m also a huge traditionalist and I have huge respect for what managers like David who have achieved so much in the game over such a long period. I think what he has achieved now both times at Everton has been pretty special. I think the way he conducts himself is just class, just very, very classy.”
Despite a strong performance from Brentford, the match against Everton ended in a 2-2 draw. Igor Thiago’s brace put Brentford ahead twice, but Everton’s resilience saw them equalize in the 91st minute.
Keith Andrews commented: “We’re disappointed, naturally when you concede that late. In the second half in particular, I thought we approached it in a different way. There were circumstances in the first half that were pretty disruptive. In the build-up to the game, Dams (Mikkel Damsgaard) wasn’t feeling particularly well, and showed bravery to play but wasn’t himself. There was just a bit of a knock-on effect to that, the first half was a bit slow and laboured at times, even though I thought we were the better team. In the second half, I thought for half an hour we were outstanding and controlled the game.”
The match highlighted Brentford’s youthful squad, which continues to learn and adapt at the Premier League level. Andrews acknowledged the challenges of maintaining momentum and managing emotions during games, especially with a young team.
Keith Andrews added: “We were 90 seconds away from winning. We’ve got a young group and it doesn’t take a genius to look at our bench in terms of the depth that we have, there’s a lot of young players on the bench and the players are giving absolutely everything. There’s always the opposition. I think the momentum in a game can flip naturally, the emotions and psychological side of the game for sure.”
Igor Thiago’s performance was a standout, as he now boasts 21 Premier League goals for the season. His ability to be in the right place at the right time has been crucial for Brentford.
Keith Andrews praised: “You earn a little bit of luck if there was that. The anticipation of being in the right places, he knows where the goal is clearly, he’s making that run and for me it’s not a coincidence when you’re in the right place at the right time so often. I think he’s an all-round centre-forward, a traditional number nine in a way you’d probably build one from scratch.”
Thiago’s fitness and availability have been key factors in his success this season, a stark contrast to last season when injuries limited his playing time. Andrews emphasized the importance of keeping Thiago fit to maximize his contributions on the field.
Keith Andrews concluded: “I think the biggest thing for Thiago this season was staying fit and playing as many minutes as he has. The obvious reason was that he wasn’t available for a lot of last season. That’s your first target, can we keep him available?”
Brentford’s journey under Andrews continues to be one of growth and adaptation, with the team showing promise for the future.
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