“Last year was a special night in Brentford’s history”: Thomas Frank reminisces his side’s previous success at Stamford Bridge
With six games left before the end of Brentford’s season, Thomas Frank’s side return to Stamford Bridge after an impressive display just over a year ago.
The ‘Bees’ beat Chelsea 4-1 away from home and will be hopeful for a similar outcome tonight.
Last season’s success
When asked about the potential of another special trip to Stamford Bridge, Frank said, “Of course, last year was a special night in Brentford’s history.”
Frank continues, “A fantastic game. I definitely will always remember it. We hope that we can go and perform again tomorrow and we hope we can win. I think it’s important. We all know that Chelsea have been struggling a little bit this season.”
“Very good players. I think in the four games Frank’s been in charge they are playing with bigger energy, more intensity on the eye and also on the numbers. I think they actually played a very good game, for example, against Madrid at home, and as far as I know, I think they won the tiny cup title last year in the Champions League.”
“They bought players with £600 million in the last two transfer windows. They haven’t forgotten how to play football and sometimes it takes one moment or one good week to work with them at Stamford Bridge. They’re clear favourites. Of course, they should be, but we hope and believe that we can do something.”
Brentford to finish above Chelsea?
Brentford are currently 5 points above the ‘Blues’ coming into this game and are looking to finish above them in the league for the first time since the 1935-36 season.
When asked about the significance of this potential achievement, Frank said, “I know there’s this local rivalry between the two clubs, so with that in mind of course it would be nice, but I don’t have any specific clubs I want to end above.”
“I just want to end as high as possible. And if you end up as high as possible, they’ll be a few who are below you.”
“Do I want to end up higher than both clubs? Yes. But also want to end higher than whatever clubs are above us – Villa, Brighton. So, we just want to finish as high as possible.”
Preparing for Chelsea
Chelsea have performed well below expectations this season. With a huge influx of new players, as well as being on their fourth manager this season, the side has constantly changed throughout this season in terms of both formation and personnel.
When asked about the challenge of preparing for a Chelsea team that constantly changes its players and formation, Frank replied, “Very difficult.”
Frank continued by saying, “We just talked about it with the analysis team yesterday and again today and the coaches and we don’t know. We have an idea of shape. We have an idea of players but we don’t know fully what would prepare for and we don’t know fully their clear structure of either the way they want to press or the way they want to build up.”
“Not, because it’s Frank, but because he’s only been charged four games and they have changed the different formation because they also play the Champions League. We don’t have too much knowledge or a sample to really know exactly what will be thrown at us tomorrow night. But we’ll be ready for it.”
