Managers React to Brentford’s Victory Over Newcastle United in Carabao Cup

Brentford’s Victory Takes Club to First Major Cup Semi-Final

Elation and Despair for Managers

Newcastle United have been rocked in recent weeks with a COVID-19 outbreak but would still have fancied a trip to the Carabao Cup semi-finals when they were drawn against Brentford in the quarter-finals. Brentford, however, had other ideas and it is they who have progressed to the semi-final stage with a 1-0 victory.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce could not contain his disappointment at being knocked out of the cup: “I can’t hide my disappointment because we’ve had a great opportunity to get into a first semi-final in many years. I’m bitterly disappointed and very, very frustrated.”

Bruce also took his share of the responsibility, feeling that he had picked a team good enough to progress: “I stand by what I said when I walked in the door – I picked the team I thought was going be good enough to win the match. Unfortunately, Brentford played very, very well on the night.”

Things do not get any easier for Newcastle and Bruce as on Boxing Day they travel to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank ‘Proud’ of Brentford

Wembley heartbreak befell Brentford in the Championship playoff final last season as they lost out to Fulham. Following that disappointment, they also lost star players Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa and Said Benrahma who departed for West Ham United, but it has not halted Frank’s great work as they sit fourth in the league and are now in the last four of the Carabao Cup.

Frank told BBC Sport: “It means a lot to me, the staff and the players because it’s a massive step and a massive win.”

Franks also praised his team who cost a mere pittance compared to their Premier League opponents: “One of their strikers up front cost more than our front three, so we knew they could put one in the back of the net at the end of the game – but we saw it through and we won.”

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