Thomas Frank
Delighted with the win?
Yes! Very delighted. Obviously a very difficult place to come and play – I think the Everton fans were remarkable. I think it’s potentially one of the best atmosphere I’ve ever tried in the first 20-25 minutes, but of course I know the dynamic changed in the game. We struggled until their first goal I would say with Everton, mainly I think we handed the long balls badly. We didn’t attack, drop, win the duels, which continued a tiny bit throughout the half but also gave them a 2-1 lead. Then, we came back into the game especially after the 1-1 goal – I understand the red card helped us but I think it’s important to mention that a lot of teams this season if they’ve been behind and then played 11 against 10. So we’re not only behind, we came back, got behind again, then we turned around against a team that are fighting and giving everything. I think that is an incredible performance and shows a lot to my players’ character. A lot of ‘so-called’ experts talked about we were going on holiday and we didn’t have anything to fight for. First and foremost, we need to be very professional and hopefully want to win every single game for Brentford fans and themselves, but I think it’s very important to show respect to the league that we do everything we can because if I was in that situation, I’d definitely expect other teams [to do the same].
Everton penalty appeals
I think one thing the referees said to us at the start of the season that we should avoid the soft penalties. I think the penalty Everton get is soft; when they talk about the minimal contact, then I think it’s a little bit soft. OK, it was given [it is what it is] – it’s easy to sit here when you win. I don’t know what to say about it.
All out against Leeds?
No, I think we will put the B Team out! We will put our very best team out there – it’s so important to understand we need to do our very best to win. It is nothing about Everton, Burnley or Leeds and I know in my press conference I will get a lot of questions between the story about me and ‘so-called’ Leeds fans and a video, but there is no story there from my perspective. Everyone will do our best to try and win on Sunday, and if Brentford can finish top 10, that’s remarkable. As far as I know, there is a fair quid to gain if you finish higher, for the Club. It’s very simple; maybe after 10 years in the Premier League you don’t care if you finish 11th or 9th but for us, every game is a cup final.
Story between you and Leeds fans?
In the Championship two years ago, I’m normally very transparent and honest, and I don’t do mind games. By mistake, I said they [Leeds] will fear coming to Griffin Park – that’s what I said. That’s the only thing I said [two years ago], since then I haven’t said anything bad. I think Leeds is one of the biggest clubs in the country; they should be in the Premier League with the story and the history. I think they’ve done remarkable. Of course, I can’t say that I want them more than Everton or Burnley, the three of them need to fight for it [survival] and we’ll say who’ll be there [Premier League next season].
Tactical substitutions
We came with a 4-3-3. After they [Everton] went to 10 men, I tried to change it as quick as possible on the pitch to attack in a 3-5-2. I wanted a better play-balling centre back to the left in Vita [Janelt] and he could run through and play more forward. The next offensive change I made was putting Christian Norgaard down to the right outside centre back, and have Josh [Dasilva] in there and he produced a cross from Norgaard. The last one I would have done would have been Sergi [Canos] instead of Rico [Henry].
