Lee Carsley gave his first interview as Head Coach of Brentford after undertaking his initial training session with the First Team squad. He told Bees Player his priority was to ensure the session was a light hearted one.
“We wanted to make sure that we got a bit of energy and made it a bit of fun,” said Lee. “Obviously it’s tough news when the manager gets changed. I’m sure the players and the staff are feeling it so it’s important to make it as energetic as we could.”
He outlined his footballing philosophy, which consists of dynamic, attacking, passing football.
“I want to see us dominate the ball,” said Lee. “I also want to see us play fast football. I like to go forward, break lines with passes, plenty of shots, crosses; I want to enjoy watching them play with energy, enthusiasm, being hard to beat, getting the ball back quickly, and dominating it.”
He gave his verdict on Paul Williams, who had been at the Club since the summer in his role as Logistics Manager until his appointment as Lee’s assistant this morning.
“I’ve known him a long time,” said Lee. “He’s someone that I trust, that’s got a vast knowledge of football and I speak to regularly about football even when he wasn’t at the Club so I know we’ve got the same mind set of how we want the team to play and set up.”
Carsley’s appointment will be reviewed at the end of the season, and the 41-year-old said it was an arrangement that suited him.
“It’s helped that it’s a short term appointment until the end of the season,” said Lee. “I want to be a coach; that’s where my strength is, coaching. It’s about working with the players and watching the team play well and progress; I see my strength in the development side of it.
“We’ve got a young team, so making sure they are in a really good position between now and the end of the season. Having said that, I don’t think there’s any reason to write this season off.”
His message to the Brentford fans was that he wanted to replicate the excitement of last season and fill the stadium.
“I’m looking forward to their support,” said Lee. “It was obviously great last season; I’ve watched a lot of games this season. Hopefully we can bring those times back, when the ground is full.”
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