Thomas Frank lauds his Brentford players for thriving in Premier League with ‘zero experience’

Thomas Frank has admitted that his Brentford players did not “know exactly what to expect” from the Premier League this season.

The Bees won the Championship play-offs last season to return to the top flight for the first time in 74 years. They started the 2021/22 campaign with a 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Frank’s side face Man Utd on Monday night. They go into this game on 40 points and they are all but safe for another year.

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The Dane told the club’s official website: “When you go into a Premier League season as a promoted team, you don’t know exactly what to expect.

“It was even less for us as not one staff member had worked at a Premier League club before and not one player had played either – two minutes from Ivan Toney and two minutes from Sergi Canos don’t count.”

In-season signings Christian Eriksen, Mathias Jorgensen and Jonas Lossl were familiar with the Premier League but Frank continued: “When we played the first game it was with zero experience.

“What did we expect? I don’t exactly know, but I do know that we wanted to aim as high as possible, try to attack and be an asset to the league.

“I had huge belief that we could do something. That was the message to the players.”

If Brentford have enjoyed a successful campaign, this weekend’s opponents have nowhere near lived up to their own expectations.

Such have been United’s difficulties that they dispensed with the services of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, although Frank knows they will still be formidable opponents.

He said: “The club is maybe the biggest in world football with what they have created over the years.

“The team is obviously struggling in terms of their ambitions – I can say that without any disrespect. They have had a tough season.

“It is always not good when you have to sack a head coach because something is not right. I’m pretty sure that their expectations were to be higher.

“It is still a team of world-class players – [Jadon] Sancho, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Bruno] Fernandes and [Marcus] Rashford are among the best offensive players in the league on their best day.

“It is a huge challenge. We are looking forward to it.”