Pep Guardiola tips Brentford boss Thomas Frank for managerial transfer “sooner or later”

Brentford manager Thomas Frank will make a move to one of Europe’s premier clubs in the near future, Pep Guardiola admitted this week.

The Manchester City manager was speaking after of a mammoth week for the club across competitions in which the reigning Premier League champions face back-to-back away clashes in the top-flight against two tough oppositions.

Brentford is up next for the club as Manchester City look to make it four wins in a row across competitions having recorded back-to-back wins in the top-flight against Leicester City and West Ham either side of New Year.

And last time out, it was a sizeable victory over Salford City that ensured Pep Guardiola and his players of their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, dismissing of the League Two high-flyers courtesy of an 8-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference at the City Football Academy on Monday afternoon, Pep Guardiola insisted to reporters that Manchester City face a stern and very different test when they travel to Brentford in the Premier League this week.

“Tomorrow [Tuesday night] we have an enormously difficult game [against Brentford]. Always the teams of Thomas [Frank] creates a lot of problems. They are a fantastic, fantastic team,” Guardiola exclaimed.

Such is the admiration for Frank’s achievements and work at the Gtech Community Stadium that Pep Guardiola also believes it is only a matter of time before the Brentford boss is snapped up by a larger club operating in European football.

“I have the feeling that he’s so happy there [at Brentford], he’s comfortable,” Guardiola began by clarifying. “But I have the feeling all the time that sooner or later, he will be appointed with a team to fight for the higher targets and he will do it really well.”

This is a developing story. More to follow.