“We Aim High, But It’s a Tough Battle”: Thomas Frank Prepares Brentford for West Ham Test

Ahead of the media press conference for Brentford’s Premier League clash against West Ham, Thomas Frank confirmed that the squad will remain unchanged from their previous match against Chelsea, with several key players still recovering from injuries. “No big news. It’s the same players available from last game to this game,” Frank said. Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, and Igor Thiago remain sidelined, though Henry has started training on the pitch and Thiago is set to begin running next week.

While Frank is pleased to see some players returning to training, he cautioned against expecting immediate impacts. “They won’t be starting games just yet – they’ve been out for too long. We need to be patient,” he explained.

Looking at the upcoming match, Frank expects an aggressive West Ham side despite their struggles to score this season. “I expect West Ham to come out quite aggressively. They have quality players like Bowen, Kudus, and Ferguson. We need to be as controlling and expressive as possible,” he said. Frank highlighted Mohammed Kudus as a significant threat, noting, “Kudus is difficult to handle. We know we can’t get too tight to him, or he’ll get past us.”

Frank also defended Brentford’s attacking style, dismissing concerns about not having a traditional striker. “We’re the fourth-highest scoring team in the league. Sometimes, it’s just about small details,” he explained. However, he admitted that conceding fewer goals remains an area for improvement. “We’ve scored a lot, but we’ve also conceded more than we’d like. Our high press has been good, but we’ve been a bit more open at times,” he acknowledged.

When discussing Brentford’s ambitions for the rest of the season, Frank emphasized consistency. “We would like to finish as high as possible. Top half would be amazing, but it’s difficult with so many good teams around us,” he said. Frank also praised West Ham’s new manager, Graham Potter, noting, “I’m very happy for Graham. He’s a fantastic coach, and you can already see his influence. He wants more control in possession, and they have top players.”

Frank highlighted the importance of managing player fatigue, saying, “It’s crucial to refresh sometimes – for players and staff. You need that mental and physical break to keep the energy up.” Even on his days off, Frank admitted he often reviews match footage to stay sharp.

As Brentford prepares for their trip to the London Stadium, Frank made it clear that his team is ready for the challenge. “We respect West Ham, but we aim to control the game and express ourselves. It’ll be an even match, and hopefully, we can come out on top,” he concluded.