Just five miles and eight points separate Chelsea and Brentford ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash, and Enzo Maresca is in no doubt about the challenge his team faces at Stamford Bridge.
Thomas Frank’s six years in charge have seen the Bees transformed from a Championship club to an established Premier League side, all while playing in a manner that has earned several admirers across the English game.
Brentford are currently ninth in the top-flight table, just four points below the Champions League qualification places, and only Chelsea in second (35) have scored more Premier League goals than the Bees’ 31.
‘I don’t know [Thomas Frank] personally but I’ve known about him and his team for many years,’ Maresca said ahead of this evening’s encounter. ‘He is doing a fantastic job, the way they achieve points, the way they play, the style they have, it is top, fantastic.
‘So it’s difficult and, as I said after Tottenham, we will need our fans behind us because it will be a very tough game, one that can be decided by tiny details. We will need to pay attention.’
The Blues boss then expanded further, adding: ‘The good thing about Brentford is they can play in many different styles, they don’t have one way to play. They can play with a back four, a back five, or a back four making a back five with one of the wingers. So it’s quite complicated and we will have to try to do our best [to win].’
However, Chelsea will possess an extra weapon Brentford won’t come 7pm on Sunday: home support.
Maresca’s relationship with the Stamford Bridge faithful and those who travel away has been growing by the week and the Italian knows he will need them against Brentford.
‘Firstly, my kids have asked me not to dance [after a win] anymore please!’ Maresca joked. ‘We will need our fans on Sunday because it will be a tough game, they are a very good team and know each other for many years.
‘They know the game they will play and it will be a game decided by tiny details. We will need our fans pushing us until the final whistle because we need a 12th player to try to beat them.’
