Liam Rosenior: Chelsea need a top performance to handle Brentford threat

Brentford currently sit fifth in the table and are unbeaten in their last six matches, putting them firmly on course for what would be the club's best-ever top-flight finish.

Much of that success has been attributed to head coach Keith Andrews, who took charge ahead of the 2025/26 campaign following the departure of long-time boss Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur.

Andrews inherited a squad that had been significantly reshaped over the summer, with several key figures leaving west London.

Club captain Christian Norgaard moved on to Arsenal, while attacking stars Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa departed for Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively.

Those exits prompted many pundits to tip Brentford for relegation, predicting that the loss of leadership and firepower would prove too much to overcome.

Instead, Andrews has overseen a remarkable transition. Brentford have combined tactical discipline with resilience, consistently picking up results against more fancied opponents and establishing themselves in the European conversation as the season progresses.

Rosenior knows Andrews well, having previously worked alongside him during their time at Sky Sports before both moved into full-time coaching careers.

"He's done a great job with Brentford, and I'm really not surprised at what he's done so far," said Rosenior.

"I've known Keith and I've had really good conversations with him over the last few years. I've got a good relationship with him. He's a good guy. He's always been really passionate about the game. He's got a lot of experience in coaching in different roles, and his team are performing really, really well.

"He's at a good club where they have a clear idea about their infrastructure and what they want to do. Analysing his team, they're in good form and are going to be a difficult challenge for us, but it's one that we're really looking forward to.

"They are a proper team in every phase of the game. All 11 players are willing to defend. They're a very good team on set-plays, whether that's from long throws, wide free-kicks or corners.

"They're a team with no ego, in the most positive terms. They work really hard for each other, they're very well organised, as every team in the Premier League is.

"We prepare for everything. There's no stone left unturned, not just from me, but from all of my staff. I'm aware of the threats that Brentford bring, and I'm sure they're aware of the ones that we do too. We know we will have to be at a really good level." 

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