The wait is finally over! The 2025/26 Premier League season starts this weekend, and Brentford will play their opening match on Sunday, 17th August, away to Nottingham Forest.
A new-look Brentford side heads into the weekend. Thomas Frank departed the Bees earlier this summer after seven incredible years in West London, taking over as Tottenham Hotspur boss. Stars such as Bryan Mbeumo, Mark Flekken, and Christian Nørgaard have also moved on to greener pastures.
It hasn’t just been outgoings for Brentford—there have been incomings too. Brentford has done its best to acquire like-for-like talents to fill the gaps left by their key players. This includes former Liverpool stars, goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher and Premier League- and Champions League-winning captain Jordan Henderson, who replace Flekken and Nørgaard respectively. Younger talents such as Antoni Milambo and former loanee Michael Kayode have also joined the Brentford squad permanently.
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With all these changes, the City Ground will witness a new era for Brentford, as the club’s former set-piece coach, Keith Andrews, takes the helm in his first-ever managerial role.
“The ambition is pretty clear”
“Emotions are pretty calm,” said Andrews ahead of his first game.
“The ambition is pretty clear—we are an ambitious football club, I’m ambitious as an individual, and we started that pretty much straight away, on the first day of pre-season. I think ‘intention’ is a word I’ve used a lot with the players. The intentions have to be perfect.”
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“Will the outcomes always be perfect? Probably not, if we’re realistic, but I feel we’re in a good place.”
As mentioned earlier, Brentford’s transfer situation has been chaotic, to say the least, most notably involving last season’s second-highest scorer, Yoane Wissa. After netting 19 goals in the 24/25 campaign, the Congolese forward wants out amid interest from Newcastle United. Wissa’s protests have been a major talking point in pre-season, and Andrews shared how he has been handling the matter.
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“I’ve made a decision that he’s not,” declared Andrews when asked if Wissa would travel to Nottingham on Sunday.
“I’m very clear on the situation as a head coach—I want Yoane in the building. I want him to be part of the first-team, and I see that moving forward, but I’m very understanding of his situation. I’ve got a very good relationship with him that will persist, but we have to focus on the players that are ready.”
“A real threat”
In Brentford’s previous visit to Nottingham, they secured a 2-0 victory, which then-manager Frank credited to Andrews, as it was the Irishman’s set-piece plays that produced both goals.
“As important? More important? I don’t know, but very important,” Andrews replied when asked about the significance of set-pieces in his new role.
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“(Nottingham) Forest are a threat, a real threat. They created a lot of opportunities last season. I was well aware of it then, and I’m still aware of it now. Clearly, it’s still a big part of our training week. The players treat it very seriously—it’s been in the culture of this football club long before I arrived, and I inherited a brilliant group with a real focus on that area of the game.”
“Thomas is a top person”
Thomas Frank’s legacy as a coach and as an individual will remain eternal in the memories of Brentford fans. Frank brought Brentford into the Premier League for the first tme in their history and moulded athletes of world class calibre, achieveing far beyond than what supporters could dream of. Andrews is well aware of the big shoes he must fill. Having been part of the Dane’s coaching staff, Andrews reflected on what he learned from him.
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“Thomas is a top person,” Andrews said of his predecessor’s personality.
“The way he communicates with players is very authentic. I’ve seen examples of Thomas with cameras and without—it’s the same Thomas. He always treats people with respect, which I think this football club is built on and is a big reason why I wanted to come here.”
“Obviously, the way he set up the team and built the football side of the club over the last seven years or so has been very impressive,” Andrews added, focusing on Frank’s tactical approach.
“It goes back years, to their Championship days. I even did a study on their throw-ins when they were playing a 4-3-3 at the time. So, a lot of respect for Thomas in terms of what he achieved, and I’ve clearly learned from him.”
With Frank’s chapter now closed, a new one begins for Andrews and Brentford. The Bees are set for their fifth season in the English top flight and will showcase their new—and hopefully improved—selves in the East Midlands.
Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, 17th August.
Anirudh Nair
Grown up in Dubai, Ani is largely into Cricket and Football and supports FC Barcelona. He is also a qualified football coach and cricket umpire, so if you're looking for someone to stand behind the stumps on short notice, you know who to call. He also regularly follows Tennis, Badminton and Field Hockey.
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