Keith Andrews said he hopes his Brentford players are proud of their achievements this season after they narrowly missed out on qualifying for European football.
The Bees were tipped to struggle this season after Andrews, who had no prior experience as a head coach, was promoted to replace Tottenham-bound Thomas Frank amid a summer of upheaval, where key players in Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo left the club.
But, as they so often do, they have punched massively above their weight and battled to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League, missing out on Conference League qualification on goal difference after a final-day draw with Liverpool.
Speaking at full-time, Andrews said he told his players to keep their heads up before going again in August.
“Mixed, mixed,” he said, asked about the post-match mood in the dressing room.
“[There is] definitely disappointment, we know what could have been and we realise that if we had won we would have been seventh, I think, so yeah, fine margins.
“I was quick to tell the players how proud they should be of themselves and what we’ve collectively achieved this season, and the staff that have played a huge part this season as well.
“So we’ll enjoy a bit of a break, players are going to the World Cup, players are going to internationals, and we’ll be striving again next season.”
Andrews continued, playing down concerns that Brentford’s squad could be raided by bargain-hunting bigger clubs in the summer transfer window.
While he kept mum on specific transfer plans, he maintained that Brentford’s transfer strategy would remain focused on developing young talent, saying he hoped to keep his current squad intact.
“In January and around contract renegotiations, we were very keen to keep hold of the group we have rather than look elsewhere first because we’ve got really good players, players that have potential that hasn’t been fulfilled yet, especially when you look at the age profile.
“Then you’ve got the elder statesmen that aren’t that old really in footballing terms, that are very consistent, know the fabric of the club, have that little bit of nous and experience that will help the younger players develop as a collective.
“The nature of the game is if your players are playing well, there is always going to be interest, so it is a good problem to have. It’s not one I’m going to be addressing today, but I’m sure I’ll be asked about it as soon as we get back in pre-season.”
Brentford have already been active in the summer transfer market, bringing in highly-rated 19-year-old defender Jannik Schuster from RB Salzburg.
