Brentford coach Thomas Frank believes the Championship is on a par with the Danish Superliga.

The former Brondby head coach moved to the Bees in December and has worked alongside Dean Smith and Richard O'Kelly with the Brentford first team, while also monitoring the progress of the club's B Team players.

And he believes that England's second tier is played at a higher tempo than the Danish top flight.

He said: “I can only compare it with the Championship. I think the Championship is different to the Danish league.

“It's more power, more physical at a higher tempo. The games are more open. There are some situations that are more relied on individual skills.

“In Denmark, it's more tactical and more close games. I think the Championship is one of the biggest leagues in the world so the level is good and better here.

“We have FC Copenhagen who play in the Europa League or Champions League who could be promoted and one or two more but the rest would struggle to compete in this league.”

Owner: Matthew Benham

Brentford came to Frank's attention thanks to FC Mitjylland, who are owned by Matthew Benham and the coach likes the way the club go about their business.

He said: “I was the head coach at Brondby for three years. I knew Brentford, especially because of Matthew and Mitjylland.

“I'd heard about this with the Smartodds and how they use the numbers and I like it a lot.

“I'm a football man but I like the statistical approach because there is something we can win.

“All clubs are looking for the extra per cent to get ahead of your opponents and that could be one of them.”

Dean Smith

Reflecting on his time at Brondby, Frank added: “That was a huge experience to be there. In Denmark, it's a smaller country the pressure and awareness of the media was massive when you're at Brondby.

“It's one of the three biggest jobs; Brondby, Copenhagen and the national team. That was a great experience.

“We have a nice stadium that holds 25,000 so that's good fun. It was a good experience and I learned a lot.”

Every job has a learning curve and Frank has enjoyed his first three months at the club and is starting to get a detailed understanding of the inner machinations of Brentford.

He explained: “I think it's a brilliant club in many aspects. They have a big history and think differently.

25/02/2017. Brentford FC V Rotherham United FC. Yennaris celebrates

“They respect the history and try to be a bit more innovative and try and do different things to stay in the Championship and develop the clubs and aiming for bigger dreams.

“I like that a lot. There are beautiful staff members. You feel like a little family. A lot of people want to do the best and the only thing they're thinking off is making the club better.”

He added: “First of all, in general, you need to learn how the club works as you have an idea through the interviews and your own research. You try and know all the people.

“The biggest learning curve is the new people and players. It's the same but different but I've tried to learn the culture and style of the Championship.

“I watched a lot of English football so I had an idea but you never know 100 per cent until you work in this league.

“Every single day or week you're on the training pitch and then playing at this fantastic stadium Griffin Park. The biggest learning curve was the culture of the Championship and the style.”

Dean Smith

While Frank would love to be a head coach again in the future, he is loving life working with Smith and O'Kelly and he believes the club has a bright future.

He said: “Dean and Richard have been fantastic in inviting me in and involving me. They have been amazing and the personality is great.

“The best thing I can do is do my best to help them and the club progress and go forward.

“I would like to do that (management) again but now I'm here and I really enjoy it and I have a chance to work at a club like Brentford.

“The main thing for me was to go out to a good club and a good project. Richard and Dean were in the interviews and I liked them a lot. We're going into a bright future.

“I think we have a good side and I think we have potential on this side to progress and develop into a better team.

“On our day we play some of the best football in the Championship. That's one of our big advantage.

“It's one of the youngest sides in the league which shows the potential. We need to create that culture and do better every single day.”

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