Bees need a volley good show

BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank masterminded a unique Premier League double over all-conquering Manchester City last term.

But he admits that taking on the Treble winners and World Club champions is like playing tennis against legend Novak Djokovic.

Frank said: “Of course they were two results we were proud of but it is odds-on for Man City to beat us on Monday night.

“We know if City are on it, then it’s very difficult to beat them. If you play against Novak Djokovic in tennis and you get him on a day when he makes zero mistakes, then you know you can’t win.

“It’s impossible because he is clearly a better player than you are. And it’s a little bit the same with City. If you hit them on a day when they aren’t absolutely on it, you have a chance. And then there is more to it than tennis – it is 11 v 11 and there are ups and downs.

“Doing the double against them was special. The relative budgets of the two clubs made it more so, and it showed that sometimes it is possible to beat the clubs with the bigger budgets.”

Frank (top) acknowledges that locking horns with Pep Guardiola – chasing a sixth title in seven years – is up there with the very toughest challenges.

He added: “Taking on a team managed by Pep is one of the biggest challenges for a coach.

“Against some teams I would say ‘this is the key player, close him down.’ But against City it is ‘this is a key player, and this one, and that one…double up here, double up there, triple up there.’ It’s tricky. I have admired Pep for years.”

But Frank is delighted striker Ivan Toney is back. “Ivan is definitely a player and forward who performs in any game.,” he said

“He scores against the big teams in the big games and that is a huge quality for any striker.”