Caoimhín Kelleher: Damien Duff exactly what Brentford needed
Caoimhín Kelleher on Brentford's victory over Spurs: "It's a very positive start. Three goals, a clean sheet and definitely something for us to build on." Pic:Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire.
LIFE AFTER LIVERPOOL is rarely easy, and while Andy Robertson's debut for Tottenham turned into a horror show as Roberto Di Zerbi's side were battered 3-0 at Brentford, the home goalkeeper had words of encouragement for both the Scotland captain and his new team.
Caoimhín Kelleher left Anfield for London last summer and also endured a rocky start, losing 3-1 at Nottingham Forest on his debut for the Bees.
But the Corkman ended the season with ten clean sheets, the fourth best record in the league, as Brentford finished a whisker away from European qualification. Now with Damian Duff on board as assistant manager to fellow Dubliner Keith Andrews, the Bees are looking to go one better, and started the season in magnificent style, seeing off a much-changed Spurs side convincingly.
Four of De Zerbi's six summer signings started, including Robertson, but with half-a-dozen regulars still missing, and the expected arrivals of Savinho and Omar Marmoush still to be completed, Tottenham are a work in progress and as the manager admitted afterwards “not yet a team.”
Andrews, by contrast, has spent a year in charge of Brentford, turning them into a well-drilled unit that has been improved by the arrival of Mamadou Sangare, whose €50m transfer from Lens looks the bargain of the summer. The Mali midfielder sliced through Tottenham's defence to set up Keane Lewis-Potter for an opening goal that was straight from the training ground, and had a part in the goals either side of half-time from Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode that saw off sorry Spurs to get Brentford's season up and running.
Kelleher admitted it could not have gone much better. “It's a very positive start. Three goals, a clean sheet and definitely something for us to build on.
“We've had a strong pre-season, worked really hard, and I think that showed in our performance today. We knew it was going to be a tough game but were confident in ourselves, and looked really good.
“Mamadou (Sangare) has been brilliant since he's come in, played two great pre-season games, and he's backed it up again. He looks fantastic.”
But Brentford are not just about one player, they are a proper team, something Andrews has taken on from his predecessor Thomas Frank, who lasted only eight months after moving to Tottenham.
“We're very positive here. We had a good season last year, Keith's first, getting to know each other as a group and finding out things about ourselves. And I think this season, we have a good springboard to push on even more and see where that takes us. Hopefully, it's a really good trajectory.”
Duff has added to that positivity since joining Andrews. The Ireland legend had been out of the game since leaving Shelbourne a year ago, and Kelleher says: “He's been brilliant. I've worked with Damien before. He's full of energy, wants to get better. He comes in and works hard on the training pitch every day, loves his sessions, and he wants to push players. He's exactly what we need. So he's been really good.”
After the game, Kelleher caught up with Robertson, who was naturally downcast after Tottenham's worst opening day defeat since losing 3-0 to Manchester United in 2011. They recovered to finish fourth that season, and Robertson is optimistic.
"You never want to get the season on your way like that. But it's a long season and we will improve,” he said.
“Today showed the areas that we still need to work on, and how ruthless the Premier League is. We know we've got a good squad but didn't have the full power of that today. Going forward, we should get better game by game.
“It's a big change for me. The squad's been great in terms of welcoming me in, I've enjoyed pre-season, getting to know everyone and settling in. Now I just want to get my head down and crack on. I'm excited to be here and excited for what's coming our way. But we have to get better quickly.”
On Kelleher, he added: “He's a really good friend of mine off the pitch. We've been through a lot together and obviously I have a lot of time for him. He'll be happy with a clean sheet. Me, not so much.”
While Robertson left Liverpool for a fresh challenge, Kelleher wanted to be a number one. He said: “It's a different situation with myself and him. I moved because I needed to get game time and be a number one, and I've loved it since I've moved.
“Andy's been a legend at Liverpool. He had eight amazing years there. I think he'll be brilliant for Tottenham, will bring them a hell of a lot.
“He's got a wealth of experience to take with him. He's won every trophy. He's a winner, and also he's a great human being. He's very positive, and I think he's a leader. He's been a Scottish captain. He was vice-captain of Liverpool. He's going to be able to lead them and guide them in a good direction.”
Kelleher 8; Kayode 8 (Hickey 75), Ajer 7, Collins 7, Lewis-Potter 8; Jensen 7 (Yarmoliuk 67), Sangare 9 (Damsgaard 75); Ouattara 6 (Anthony 67), Janelt 8, Schade 6; Thiago 6 (Wilson 83)
Kinsky 6; Gray 6 (Udogie 85), Van Hecke 6, Senesi 6, Robertson 7; Tonali 5, Bergvall 4 (Fernandes 46); Moore 5 (Maddison 66), Gallagher 5 (Bentancur 46), Tel 5; Richarlison 4 (Solanke 66)
Michael Oliver 7
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