Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield (kick-off 16:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Andrews confirmed they are “in a good place” with player fitness: “We’ve had a good couple of weeks. The end of season feels naturally coming to a close. Injury-wise, it is the same as last week in terms of availability.”
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On possibility of qualifying for Europe: “It would make it a remarkable season considering where we started from. To navigate through the season and come out towards the end and to have that potential outcome [European football] is pretty special.”
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Asked about Igor Thiago’s future at the club, he responded: “I will get badgered for that throughout July and August. I don’t think it is right to be discussing that. I think it is right to be discussing what a season he has had and what a summer he is going to have.”
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On beating Liverpool 3-2 earlier in the campaign: “It was a big game for us, for sure. To beat the defending champions at that stage of the season was a huge performance and result. You have got to take the blows as the nature of the game on Sunday will be slightly different.”
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With Jordan Henderson facing his former side, Andrews said: “He has been very good for us. He has settled into life back in the Premier League when maybe some people doubted he could do that at the age he is. His professionalism is the best I have ever seen in terms of how he prepares for games.”
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On learning throughout the season: “The blows, the disappointment, the choppy waters in the first few months of the season, things just settling, the transfer window was difficult. You are constantly learning about that and yourself, how you deal with people, how I speak to you [media] guys and trying to balance that. It is the constant learning. You have got to learn fast.”
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On what needs to happen over the summer: “There will probably be a little bit of a plan A and plan B scenario where the league position dictates. In general terms, we try to add the right type of player into the equation that will supplement the squad. Jannik [Schuster] fits that really well. He’s had a really good season at [Red Bull] Salzburg. I can see the hunger in him to do well, and I have no doubt that he will prove to be a good signing.”
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[BBC]
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