Greater than midway by way of the season, Brentford are in dreamland.
With 4 wins in 5 video games, and a Brazilian striker banging within the targets, all of a sudden Bees followers discover themselves drifting off with ideas of journeys to Milan, Munich and Barcelona subsequent season.
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A complete 3-0 win over Sunderland moved Keith Andrews’ aspect into fifth within the Premier League – a spot that was ok to safe Champions League soccer final time period.
Solely leaders Arsenal have collected extra factors over the previous six video games.
There is a lengthy approach to go but however Brentford are firmly within the battle for European soccer.
Nobody was predicting this final summer time.
Thomas Frank had departed for Tottenham after seven years as head coach, through which time he had not solely acquired the membership promoted but in addition established them within the prime flight.
Membership captain Christian Norgaard left for Arsenal and attacking duo Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa – who scored a mixed 39 targets in 2024-25 – have been out the door as nicely, becoming a member of Manchester United and Newcastle respectively.
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Set-piece coach Andrews was promoted to interchange Frank, whereas there was no striker among the many summer time signings.
A yr of wrestle, probably even relegation, was forecast. But right here we’re in January with Brentford within the prime 5.
So how have they managed it?
Igor Thiago’s record-breaking marketing campaign
Brentford’s choice not to herald one other striker was partly right down to circumstance, with Wissa’s transfer not going by way of till deadline day.
However in addition they knew that they had a £30m striker already ready to go.
Igor Thiago joined from Membership Brugge in July 2024 for a then membership report payment, however was stricken by harm in his debut marketing campaign, going goalless in eight appearances.
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The 24-year-old has gone about making up for misplaced time this season, although, together with his double towards Sunderland taking him to 16 league targets – probably the most by a Brazilian in a single Premier League marketing campaign.
Given the countrymen who’ve come earlier than him, that’s some accomplishment, particularly with 17 video games remaining.
“He is been a breath of contemporary air,” former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy mentioned on BBC Match of the Day.
“He is bodily intimidating, fast, sturdy, however technically higher than folks suppose. Good together with his toes, each toes, he can rating off each. You possibly can see he is filled with confidence.
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“These numbers are implausible. He should be so proud. That is an enormous praise to him.”
That solely Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe have scored extra in any of Europe’s prime 5 leagues up to now reveals the extent he’s taking part in at.
And it’s not simply the amount however the timing of the targets which have been so vital for Brentford.
His first aim towards the Black Cats was his seventh opener of the season. Given how usually we’re informed the significance of the primary aim in a recreation, having somebody you may depend on to take that first large probability can’t be underestimated.
Previous to the sport towards Sunderland, no participant to have tried at the least 30 pictures this season has a greater capturing accuracy than Igor Thiago’s 59.1%.
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He hits the goal. Do that always sufficient and the targets will – and have – come.
Given the struggles he had earlier in life, the place he following the loss of life of his father, maybe it must be no shock that stress on the pitch is one thing he takes in his stride.
“The recruitment workforce deserve lots of reward for the kind of gamers they carry in and personalities,” Andrews informed Match of the Day.
“It’s actually spectacular. He’s a very particular one that has fitted into life very properly. He has needed to earn this path. He has earned his journey and grafted.
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“He has acquired severe grit about his persona. He’s growing his ability set continuously and we’re studying increasingly more about him. He’s a reasonably full centre-forward.”
Andrews proving sceptics improper
Igor Thiago is the person of the second however Brentford are usually not and have by no means been a one-man band.
Whereas that they had star gamers – Ivan Toney, Christian Eriksen, Mbeumo and Wissa to call a couple of – below Frank, they have been all the time seen as a workforce stronger than the sum of their elements.
The concern was that after the Dane left, that might not be the case, and that the sum of Brentford’s elements alone may not be sufficient to remain up.
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Because of this, appointing Andrews, with no earlier managerial expertise, and only a yr on the membership was seen by these exterior the membership as an enormous danger.
A primary managerial job is a problem for anybody, not to mention when it comes within the Premier League and having made the leap from set-piece coach to the highest job.
However on condition that Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was the one different possibility that Brentford checked out, they have been clearly assured that they had the suitable man.
Up to now, as usually appears to be the case with the important thing choice makers at Brentford, it seems as in the event that they have been spot on.
Andrews gained simply considered one of his first 5 league video games in cost however large residence victories towards Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle have adopted.
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Wins that, following their good current run, might show all of the extra vital within the race for Europe.
“We’re in good kind and taking part in rather well. We’re taking part in with braveness and conviction in the whole lot we do with and with out the ball,” Andrews added.
“We’re proud of how we’re going however we wish to preserve pushing.”
In a league the place fourth and fifteenth are at present separated by simply eight factors, they don’t have any different possibility, as a result of issues might rapidly look very totally different.
However, for now, Brentford are defying the percentages. And the longer that lasts, the nearer to actuality these desires of Europe will turn into.
