Thomas Frank questions Leicester City’s managerial decision and criticizes ‘terrible’ timing
Thomas Frank reacts to Leicester City's sacking of Steve Cooper ahead of clash at the Gtech Community Stadium
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has expressed his bewilderment at Leicester City’s decision to sack Steve Cooper, lamenting the “terrible” timing ahead of their clash on Saturday.
Brentford will face Leicester at the Gtech Community Stadium in their first match since Cooper’s dismissal last Sunday.
With Ruud van Nistelrooy not yet appointed, first-team coach Ben Dawson will serve as caretaker manager for the game.
Frank is puzzled by the decision to part ways with Cooper, who led Leicester to 16th place in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone and performing better than the other two promoted sides.
“It is terrible timing for us, but we will deal with it,” Frank said during his press conference on Friday. “I’m always sad when a fellow coach is sacked.
I know Steve quite well from the Championship and the Premier League, and I think he’s a brilliant coach. From the outside, I don’t really understand why it happened.
“In terms of preparation, we don’t know exactly what Leicester will bring.
I haven’t watched a single minute of their games this week because I think it would be a waste of time.”
Leicester’s task at Brentford will be challenging under Dawson’s interim leadership.
The Bees boast the best home record in the league, having defeated Crystal Palace, Southampton, Wolves, Ipswich, and Bournemouth at the Gtech.
West Ham is the only team to claim a point there this season, earning a 1-1 draw in September.
Brentford will not see any players returning from injury for the match.
Full-back Rico Henry, utility defender Kristoffer Ajer, and winger Gustavo Nunes remain unavailable.
However, midfielder Christian Norgaard is eligible to play after the club successfully appealed his three-match ban for a red card against Everton.
Frank commented: “Overall, it’s positive. We have no new injuries, and the players who are out are making progress.
Kristoffer and Nunes won’t be ready for this game.
“I’m especially happy to have Norgaard available for the next three games. It would have been a very harsh decision to uphold the ban, so I’m glad it was correctly overturned.”
