Frank Calls for Caution as Brentford Pursues European Qualification

Brentford’s unexpected away victory against Nottingham Forest on Thursday has kept their hopes of securing a spot in European club competition alive for next season; however, manager Thomas Frank remains cautious about the team’s prospects.

The 2-0 triumph has left Brentford sitting in 11th position in the Premier League, just two points behind eighth-placed Fulham. With the possibility of up to ten English clubs qualifying for European competition next season, Frank emphasised that Brentford’s fate is not entirely within their control, especially with four matches remaining in their league schedule.

“A few things need to unfold; teams above us need to accumulate fewer points, and we require Manchester City to emerge victorious in the FA Cup,” Frank stated to reporters following the victory at the City Ground, where Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa scored.

“There are aspects we cannot govern ourselves,” he added.

“In our last twelve outings, we’ve been remarkably consistent and performed excellently. There’s another crucial match coming up on Sunday that we’ll strive to win.”

Next up, Brentford will welcome Manchester United before concluding their campaign with away games against Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, along with a home fixture against Fulham in between.

When asked whether he believed Brentford was prepared for European competition, Frank responded: “Ask me again after three matches, and I’ll give you an answer.”

“We’re evolving as a club, and the team is developing. We would have been more competitive had we not faced as many injuries last season.”

“We’ve consistently performed at a high level. This season, we’ve had one poor performance, whereas in the previous season, we had three or four.”

Brentford has yet to make an appearance in European club competitions, and Frank mentioned to Sky Sports that it could be a challenging endeavour for the club.

“Do you aspire to be a European club, but what does that even mean?” he queried.

“Is it about being there every year? If so, it depends on the size of the club, as the budget needs to be fairly aligned with that. Money plays a significant role.

“The advantage we have lies in our culture, strategy, hard work, clear principles, and style of play. We excel in these areas, which can elevate our level, and it certainly has improved us,” Frank concluded.