'We are never celebrating a point but it is a very good point'published at 20:13 BST 12 April
20:13 BST 12 April
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Thomas Frank spoke to Sky Sports after Brentford's draw against Arsenal: "Of course, it is a very good point against a very good Arsenal team that beat Real Madrid four days ago. Fighting back to get to 1-1 shows the character in our team. I would have loved us to create more but they also defended very well."
On Yoane Wissa scoring again: "It is such a privilege. How many No nines have scored 15 Premier League goals this year for a team that, with all due respect, is not amongst best in the league? That is a big credit to Wissa but also the chances we create."
On his ambitions: "We would love to compete for Europe and aim for as high as possible in many ways. That is what we are fighting for every single year and game. We are never celebrating a point but it is a very good point. We will keep pushing."
Yoane Wissa scored his 15th Premier League goal this season, making Brentford the first side to have two players score 15+ this term (Bryan Mbeumo on16).
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Brentfordpublished at 11:11 BST 12 April
11:11 BST 12 April
I wanted Arsenal to try to push Liverpool in the title race but boss Mikel Arteta clearly knew something I did not, resting his players against Everton last weekend and then demolishing Real Madrid the way they did.
Arteta will make changes again here before Wednesday's second leg at the Bernabeu, and the fact it will not be the Gunners' strongest side makes this quite hard to predict.
Brentford are very capable but I have a feeling the Gunners will still have enough to win, even though they are prioritising Europe now.
Semi-automated offsides a 'step in right direction' but take 'with a pinch of salt'published at 11:07 BST 12 April
11:07 BST 12 April
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There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.
You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.
With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.
It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.
One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.
So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.
I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.
But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.
I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.
It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?
Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.
I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.
But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.
Frank on injury news, defending free kicks and having 'trust in ourselves'published at 16:29 BST 10 April
16:29 BST 10 April
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal (kick-off 17:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
There is "no new injury news" for Brentford as "everyone who was available for Chelsea is available again".
Frank added: "The three guys who are getting closer - [Aaron] Hickey, [Igor] Thiago and Gustavo [Nunes] – are progressing and going in the right direction. Gustavo is the closest of the three. Let's see."
The Bees boss hopes his side can "play as offensive as possible" when they face Arsenal, however, has acknowledged they will "need to defend a bit" against the Gunners, adding: "Hopefully we can be as much as possible in the middle and high pressure."
Frank was at their opponent's Champions League match against Real Madrid in midweek and called the 3-0 win an "unbelievably impressive performance".
On defending against Declan Rice's free kicks: "The second one was particularly difficult to defend but, of course, you could avoid giving the free-kick away. For the first one, I hope our wall would be a bit different, so he can't get around that side. That would be my expectation. But let's just avoid giving fouls away."
He said that "no matter who Arsenal put on the pitch that it will be a "difficult game".
Frank added: "We believe in ourselves and trust ourselves - we've done very well the last two times we've been there - 2-1 last season, we could've got something out of it, and 1-1 the year before."
On Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta: "A great manager, they've got a lot of details and principles they've put into the team, and I like what they do."
How did Frank and Maresca behave in the technical area this weekend?published at 07:59 BST 9 April
07:59 BST 9 April
Adam Millington BBC Sport journalist
Coaching on a matchday is a team affair for Thomas Frank. He has no qualms with stepping back to analyse the game and allowing the rest of his backroom team to deputise.
Frank constantly shifted back to the bench with his notepad in hand to speak to colleagues before stepping back to convey information to the players on the pitch.
He seemed to prefer the slightly higher vantage point from the bench. It also gave him the ability to intently watch replays of what was happening on the pitch, assess the game in real time and make any needed adjustments.
Enzo Maresca, however, was the polar opposite. He rarely retreated to the bench, instead spending the game pacing up and down - and often outside of - his dugout.
Maresca was regularly animated, shouting instructions towards his players and running backwards and forwards. Frank, meanwhile, was quiet and pensive in his technical area.
Gossip: Onyeka set to returnpublished at 07:40 BST 9 April
07:40 BST 9 April
Brentford and Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka, 27, will return to the club once his loan spell at Bundesliga side Augsburg ends this summer. (Florian Plettenberg, external)
A 'changing of the guard' at Brentford?published at 12:26 BST 8 April
12:26 BST 8 April
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
This is something I do not want to write, but is a changing of the guard starting to happen at Brentford?
That was one question to come out of Sunday's goalless draw with Chelsea, for which Ethan Pinnock was dropped to the bench instead of starting for probably the first ever time when he has been fit.
Pinnock has been absolutely crucial to the Bees' rise over the past six years and always quite rightly been first choice at centre-half.
He is hugely popular, has played more than 200 games for us in all competitions, scored a dozen goals and has been one of our most consistent players since arriving.
Pinnock's timing and reading of the game has always been immaculate and to have only five bookings and one red card in all that time is extraordinary for a centre-half.
However, sadly this season at times his powers have seemed to be waning a bit.
Mistakes are so rare that when Pinnock does make them, everybody notices. After a couple early in the season, he was twice outpaced by Beto against Everton in February and then twice gave the ball away in last week's defeat at Newcastle.
He was substituted late on in that match and then left out on Sunday, in favour of Sepp van den Berg, who took Pinnock's place when he was out injured at the turn of the year.
It could be that Pinnock is still not fully fit and that when he is, he will be as good as new.
But it could also be that Van den Berg, who formed a solid partnership with the now undroppable Nathan Collins in Pinnock's absence, may have moved above him in the pecking order.
Gossip: Bayer Leverkusen keen on Flekkenpublished at 07:59 BST 8 April
07:59 BST 8 April
Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Brentford and Netherlands goalkeeper Mark Flekken, 31, with the Bees wanting about 15m euros (£12.8m). (Sky Germany - in German), external
Nick: Really strong first half from Brentford but we didn't create very many really good chances. We struggled to cope with Chelsea's changes and looked tired with no real attacking options on the bench. Thomas Frank doesn't get too much wrong, but not having a substitute forward seemed like a mistake. Kevin Schade looked knackered and Yoane Wissa was starting to cramp.Flekken looked assured, claimed the ball really well and made some good saves.
Mitchell: We played well without creating masses of chances. We lacked positivity with Yehor Yarmoliuk on but Vitaly Janelt helped. We missed two gilt-edged chances at the end, but a draw is probably the right result.
Mel: Another day of missed chances against a top-six team. Our defence once again showed defiance and stability. On balance, we should have nicked the game but a point was well deserved against a top-class side. Hint for Frank's staff: Schade needs some mental strengthening, he is a great lad who oozes speed and talent but sadly lacks confidence in his own ability. Well done Bees and great to hear our full-backs are nearing match readiness.
Chelsea fans
Ann: Rubbish again, Chelsea. What is the manager doing? He will lose his place by not putting his best players on. You need to do better.
Keith: We didn't lose is about all I can say about this game. There were some good performances but it is another two points dropped that were much needed.
Derek: Same old, same old. Enzo Maresca just serving up one course of football, and not offering any changes if something from the menu isn't working. He's been found out, he's out of his depth, and needs to be moved on for the club to hit the targets we are aiming for. My worry is that the owners aren't actually bothered about winning trophies - they're just in it to improve the club as a brand and make themselves richer.
Missed chances cost Brentford against Chelseapublished at 17:44 BST 6 April
17:44 BST 6 April
Jonty Colman BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
While Chelsea had 21 shots to Brentford's nine in the goalless draw between the two sides, the Bees had the better chances and based off them, should have taken three points.
In the first half, Mikkel Damgaard was through on goal six yards out, but completely missed the ball when he only had Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to beat.
Keane Lewis-Potter's header from a corner also Sanchez into a good diving stop and while Chelsea's second half substitutions led to them controlling the flow of the second half, it was the Bees who had three golden chances in a five-minute flurry late on.
Bryan Mbuemo exchanged a one-two with Yoane Wissa before his effort on goal was denied by Sanchez.
From the resulting corner, Sepp van den Berg, who almost turned into his own net earlier in the half, headed over from close range before Wissa himself steered wide with a header of his own.
Between the two sides, Opta said an expected goals (xG) total of 2.54 had been generated between both teams, the third highest in a Premier League game this season which has ended 0-0.
Had either of Damsgaard, Mbuemo, Wissa, Van den Berg or Lewis-Potter taken their chances, the Bees would have ended their eight-game wait for a home victory in the league and boosted their slim hopes of qualifying for European football for the first time in their history.
'We should have taken our chances'published at 16:58 BST 6 April
16:58 BST 6 April
Image source, Getty Images
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has been speaking to Match of the Day about the result: "I felt that we played a good game, a very good game. I think the performance was good. The first half was a very good performance, I think we were clearly on top in the first half. In that spell, we should have taken our chances. In the second half, more even. In all of the game, we defended very well."
On keeping a first clean sheet at home in the Premier League for 11 months: "That is crazy. That is a positive, I guess."
On the performance: "The performance overall was very good. We were playing against a top team with a good manager. They are well-coached, they have spent billions on players. I think the way we played and performed today, we had the better chances to win the game."
On being a consistent Premier League club: "Our culture is fantastic. I think it's good people working together, working for each other, and caring about each other. To be able to take calm, solid and good decisions is an unbelievably important thing, especially from owners and directors."
Image source, Getty Images
