Igor Thiago told AS in an exclusive interview that Brentford’s push for Europe remains firmly realistic, while the striker also reflected on his Golden Boot battle with Erling Haaland and the belief that drove him past 20 Premier League goals.
Igor Thiago has said Brentford still believe European qualification is within reach, with the striker outlining both the team’s ambitions and his own confidence in an interview with AS. Speaking to the Spanish outlet, Thiago made clear that Brentford’s objectives for the closing weeks of the season are fixed firmly on securing a place in Europe.
“Our objectives are very clear: to keep playing as well as we are and to give everything so that, in the end, we can get into a European competition,” Thiago said. He added that Brentford have to be “realistic and understand that it is possible for us”, before describing the final stretch of the campaign as “six finals”.
That message speaks to Brentford’s position as the run-in tightens. The club remain in contention for a European place, and Thiago’s comments suggest the players see that target as achievable rather than aspirational. There is caution in his wording, but no attempt to lower expectations.
He also spoke in detail about his own season and the belief that shaped it. Thiago said he had imagined reaching the 20-goal mark in the Premier League from the start of the campaign and had spoken openly inside the club about that target. “I always imagined it,” he said. “I always said inside the club that I was going to score 20 or more goals in the Premier League.”
That confidence has now been backed up by his numbers. Thiago has moved beyond the recent top-flight scoring marks set by Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, and he described that level of output as “something sensational” for him. It is another sign of how quickly he has become central to Brentford’s season.
One of the more striking parts of the interview was his discussion of the Golden Boot race. Thiago said competing with Erling Haaland is “an enormous pride” and explained that he studies the Manchester City striker’s movement and finishing. He described Haaland as “an inspiration” and admitted that even in his best dreams he had not expected this moment to arrive so quickly at 24.
Thiago also pointed to the environment around Brentford as an important factor in his season. He said the squad is united, that the club’s leadership continues to drive standards, and that one of the group’s strengths is its ability to ignore outside noise. The emphasis in his remarks was on internal belief and consistency rather than distraction.
Taken together, the interview offered both a personal reflection and a wider team message. The striker is clearly proud of what he has done so far, but the stronger thread running through his comments is what Brentford still think they can achieve. With Europe still in sight and Thiago leading the line, his message was straightforward enough: the belief remains, and the target has not changed.