Pep Guardiola says it is just “a question of time” before Thomas Frank lands one of European football’s biggest jobs after Manchester City were given another major scare by Brentford.
The west London club were the last away team to win at Etihad Stadium, just before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
They took just 23 seconds to score on their latest visit as Yoane Wissa took advantage of a major defensive lapse in the City box.
Brentford then wasted three excellent chances to add to their lead before Erling Haaland turned the game on its head with two goals before half-time, before City saw out a 2-1 win.
Guardiola heaped praise on Brentford and Frank afterwards.
“They are an extraordinary team,” said the City boss. “What they do always makes sense.
“Every corner is a headache. They are compact. This season, they have a high press. Thomas is one of the best.”
Asked if he is surprised Frank, who joined Brentford as assistant head coach in 2016 and replaced Dean Smith in charge of the first team two years later, was yet to join one of Europe’s big guns, Guardiola replied: “It is just a question of time.
“I’m good in a few things, one of which is reading when the manager is good. It is going to happen.”
Frank was heavily linked with Manchester United before and after last season’s FA Cup final as the Old Trafford club delayed making a decision around the future of Erik ten Hag.
Told of Guardiola’s post-match comments when he arrived to conduct his own media conference a few minutes later, Frank thanked the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach for the praise, but skirted round the issue of moving clubs.
“First, thank you for that, Pep – it is always nice,” he said. “There are a lot of reasons why I admire Pep. He always shows class and did it when we beat them here last time, almost 50 games ago.
“I am very happy at Brentford but maybe one day I will try something new.”
Frank was proud of his side’s performance but agreed they had failed to capitalise on their dominance immediately after Wissa’s goal, although he felt Kevin de Bruyne’s decision to waste time by taking the ball to the corner in stoppage time was a tribute to the way his side had played.
“If they do that at the Etihad against Brentford, we have probably done something well,” he said.
“If Manchester City are the best team in the world, for 25 minutes we were world class. I am 50/50 between being frustrated at not getting anything out of the game after such a good performance, and being really proud of the way we played.”