Despite defeat at the Etihad, the Bees remain hungry to transform a transformative season into a historic finish as returning players bolster their final push for continental qualification.
Keith Andrews believes Brentford are still in the European race despite their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City leaving them with work to do in the final two games of the Premier League season.
Brentford left the Etihad Stadium empty-handed after Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki scored for City, but Andrews refused to view the result as the end of the Bees’ push for a strong finish. The Brentford head coach admitted Europe had not been the club’s target at the start of the campaign, but said there is still ambition inside the squad.
“We are a club that’s very ambitious,” Andrews said in his post-match press conference.
“We’re a very humble but hungry club. Probably wasn’t the target at the start of the season. I think everybody would be pretty honest around that.”
Brentford’s defeat at City came after a recent run in which they have remained on the edge of the European conversation. Andrews said the club’s progress should be judged against the amount of change they went through last summer, with his side still positioned to finish the campaign strongly.
“The amount of change naturally that happened last summer and I think so far we’ve had a very good season,” he said.
“And we’re just really, really keen to continue that.”
Andrews also pointed to the mood and energy in the squad as Brentford prepare for their final two matches. He said returning players had helped strengthen the group, giving him more options from the bench at a key stage of the season.
“I haven’t seen anything other than ambition and energy from the players in the last few weeks,” Andrews said.
“As the squad is, we’re getting a few injuries back and we’re starting to look a little bit stronger from the bench, more options.”
The result against City was damaging, particularly because Brentford had competed well for long periods before the scoreline moved away from them late on. Andrews felt his side had started the second half strongly and caused problems before City’s quality told.
But his message after the match was still focused on what remains possible rather than what had slipped away.
“I anticipate we’ll get two good performances in the last two games and let’s see where that leaves us,” Andrews said.
Brentford’s European hopes may no longer be fully in their own hands, but Andrews’ comments made clear he does not see the chase as finished. With two fixtures remaining, the task now is to take maximum points and give themselves the best chance of turning a strong season into something more.