Brentford manager Kit Andrews expressed pride in his team following their narrow 1-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League.
Andrews felt the game was closely fought, although the red card shown to Yegor Yarmolyk shifted its momentum.
“First and foremost, I feel immense pride in what we are, how we work, and the way we play our game. I thought the match was fairly equal. We were gaining confidence and looking to up the tempo. I believed the team would continue in that vein, but the second half changed, and it became more difficult for us,” Andrews said in an interview with Sky Sports.
Andrews urges team to be cleverer
The Brentford boss highlighted the need for his players to manage their emotions better during crucial moments of the match.
“We need to be able to assess situations correctly, act smarter, and be cleverer. Our players are not robots; they play with emotions, passion, and at the limit of their abilities. I like that, but finding the right balance can be tricky.
Today, we faced a very strong team, along with other circumstances that impacted the game,” the coach noted.
Reaction to Yarmolyk's dismissal
Andrews specifically commented on Yarmolyk's red card, which he received following an incident involving Liverpool defender Jeremy Doku.
“I think Doku acted very cleverly: he approached him even when the ball was in the other direction. I believe he was trying to provoke the opponent. But Yarmolyk reacted in a way he shouldn’t have,” the manager explained.
Brentford had belief in their abilities
According to Andrews, there was disappointment in the dressing room, as the team had hoped for a positive result against Liverpool.
“There is disappointment, as we believe we can compete on equal terms with any team. When everything is at an even level, we feel confident. But today we gave the opponent an advantage,” he concluded.
