Andrews: Brentford ready to break their ceiling after near-miss on Europe

Brentford had a Europa League spot within their grasp in added time at Anfield last May when Dango Ouattara's header went wide from point-blank range. That miss crystallised Andrews' first season in charge—growth tempered by narrow margins.

Rather than panic spending, Andrews' summer refresh emphasised squad depth and experience. Damien Duff arrived as assistant coach in June, alongside recruits including centre-back Jannik Schuster, wingers Callum Wilson and Jaidon Anthony, and midfielder Mamadou Sangare.

Only Ethan Pinnock and Frank Onyeka departed the first-team squad, a stark contrast to previous windows when Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Yoane Wissa left for bigger clubs. At £112.5m, Brentford spent the eighth-lowest in the Premier League—a calculated approach rather than wholesale overhaul.

"This is a baseline. We'll continue to push hard," Andrews told Sky Sports, according to the interview. He spent pre-season plotting how to convert potential into results, identifying where senior leadership could tilt tight contests.

The direction appears measured: incremental gains in training, preparation and squad cohesion rather than transformative signings. Whether that restraint proves sufficient to finally breach the European threshold will define this campaign.