The mutual respect shared between the dugouts in west London belies the desire both managers feel to deliver a “special” derby win in west London as Brentford visit Fulham on Monday night.
It is a derby unlikely to disappoint with Brentford’s affinity for goals setting up a potential thriller. There have been a league-high 36 goals scored in Brentford’s nine league matches, while three of the last five league meetings between these two sides have finished 3-2.
Both clubs have established themselves in the English top flight over the past few seasons, with their managers also securing stable tenures, leading to a shared admiration in west London.
Though, with just one point separating the sides in ninth and tenth, both Thomas Frank and Marco Silva will be just as intent on delivering a memorable result for their fans under the lights on Monday.
“A London derby, local derby, is always more special, probably more intense, and it’s always a tough game. Away or at home against them, it’s always a tough game, like it’s always the same for them to play against us,” said Fulham’s Silva.
“We want to give a great feeling to our fans, that is to win a local derby. We know what we are going to face, we know that it’s a little bit more special to the fans, and what we want to give what they deserve from the Monday Night Football.”
Silva can see parallels between his own journey in west London and that of Brentford, who have fared well despite facing their first season without former talisman Ivan Toney.
“You can compare the same story to us as well, losing important players, selling important players, [but] being able to rebuild again,” he explained.
“There are similar things between both sides in that aspect, to sometimes sell their best players and to go again, to try to rebuild, to try to put some young players and fresh players inside. [Frank] is a top person, his job speaks for itself.”
While their similarity in mindset might lead to a shared story, it also means both are just as determined to deliver the three points to their borough of west London.
“In recent years, it has been very tight between the two teams - we have had some fantastic games against each other,” added Frank.
“Now, we're going to play Monday night, under the floodlights, Craven Cottage - a historic stadium - we're bringing 3,000 fans, and we'll do everything we can for them to get the win. I'm really looking forward to it."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fulham – Andreas Pereira
Only Bukayo Saka (27) has created more chances in the Premier League this season than Fulham’s Andreas Pereira (26), although none of those chances have been converted by his teammates yet.
He’s set up 11 different players, with only Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski creating a chance for more different team-mates (12).
Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo has netted eight goals in the Premier League this season, with only Erling Haaland scoring more (11). He has scored 11 goals in his last 13 London derbies, including two goals at Craven Cottage in a 3-0 win last campaign.
He has been integral to Brentford’s attacking efforts, having taken the most shots (16) and provided the joint-most key passes (17) in the squad.
MATCH PREDICTION: FULHAM WIN
Fulham are unbeaten in their last five Premier League London derbies (W2 D3), last having a longer unbeaten run against fellow sides from the capital during the 2006-07 season (seven in a row).
They will also be looking to punish the Bees' leaky defence. Brentford have conceded 18 goals in their opening nine Premier League games this season, their most after nine league matches since 1961-62 (19). It’s the first time they haven’t kept a clean sheet at this stage since 2015-16.
Only West Ham (275) have seen more shots in the league than Brentford’s nine games this term (268). The Bees have faced 56 more shots than they’ve had themselves (106 for, 162 against), the third-worst differential behind only Leicester City (-81) and Southampton (-67).
That being said, Brentford have still managed to secure wins despite such a worrying defensive record. While they have shipped eight goals in their last three Premier League games, they have won both of the matches in which they’ve conceded three goals in that time.
Brentford have only lost one of their last 11 away league games against Fulham (W5 D5), failing to score just once at Craven Cottage in that run.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Fulham – 46%
Draw – 24.3%
Brentford – 29.7%
Galaxy dedicate record-extending MLS Cup triumph to 'special' Puig
The LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, with their triumph motivated by Riqui Puig's injury.
The Galaxy found themselves two goals in front after 13 minutes thanks to strikes from Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic before Sean Nealis reduced the deficit.
Greg Vanney's side were able to hang on to seal the victory after the break, with many of the Galaxy players paying tribute to the absent Puig.
The Spaniard missed Saturday's showpiece after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in their Western Conference final victory over the Seattle Sounders.
Puig had been instrumental for the Galaxy this season, registering 31 goal involvements (17 goals, 14 assists) across all competitions.
He also created more chances (70) than any of his Galaxy team-mates, who dedicated their victory to Puig.
"It’s really special," said Mark Delgado. “When Riqui went down in the last game, and that final whistle blew, we were all happy. But to see him go down, we all felt so sad for him.
"It was just more of a motivation and another reason to step out there and win. A brother of ours went down, and we got to win this thing. We’re so happy to win this for him.”
After opening the scoring in the ninth minute, Paintsil was swarmed by his team-mates after tucking his shot past the onrushing Carlos Coronel.
But among the madness, the Ghanaian looked to the bench to grab Puig’s jersey and raise it toward the Galaxy faithful, with Joveljic following suit after his strike.
“This guy is unbelievable. One of the best players in the league, Riqui," added Diego Fagundez. “And today showed, even though he wasn’t on the field, we’re a family in here.
"We’re with each other so much that we’re like brothers. And it doesn’t matter if someone goes down, we’re all together. And today, we did it for him, and we did it for ourselves.”
“The first message that he said before we were in the huddle was ‘don’t do it for me, do it for each other,’ and that’s the right kind of mentality we want to have.
"He, as a player, he deserves everything. I know this is what he wanted.”
Puig was in the stands to support his side during the match, and despite not being able to help on the pitch, the Spaniard expressed his gratitude to his team-mates.
“Honestly, I’m very happy," Puig told MLS El Resumen. “It’s been a very complicated week for me, but people are giving me a lot of support, sending me messages.
"I apologise for not being able to respond to almost anybody because it’s been really complicated for me to face this type of injury.
"I was very afraid of it, even more so for nine months, to wait for this match. And I think today the team played spectacularly.”
Dortmund will learn from Gladbach draw, says 'hurt' Sahin
Nuri Sahin was left "hurt" and frustrated after his Borussia Dortmund team were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Monchengladbach.
Dortmund took the lead through Jamie Gittens in the 75th minute of Saturday's Bundesliga contest, but hosts Gladbach swiftly hit back when Kevin Stoger converted a penalty.
Gladbach were reduced to 10 in stoppage time when substitute Tomas Cvancara received two bookings in quick succession, but Dortmund were made to settle for a draw.
It means Sahin's team, who created three big chances – defined as an opportunity from which a player would reasonably be expected to score – and had 16 shots, have still not won an away game in the league this term.
"It is frustrating that we did not kill off the game, that we did not score a second goal," said Sahin, who saw his goalkeeper Gregor Kobel make a fine save late on to deny Robin Hack.
"It hurts and is maybe more frustrating than the away defeats before. But we will learn from this."
Dortmund also lost Niklas Sule and Maximilian Beier to injury.
And the duo are now doubts for Dortmund's Champions League meeting with Barcelona next week.
"This is like a bad joke to be honest," said Sahin, who has had to grapple with a long injury list all seen.
"I don't know if I have done something wrong to have that many injures.
"Obviously after having taken them off, they are doubtful for Wednesday."
Sporting director Ashworth leaves Manchester United
Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United's sporting director just five months after joining the club.
United pushed hard for the highly rated Ashworth, who was in place at Newcastle United, and spent five months on gardening leave before officially starting with the Red Devils, who reportedly paid significant compensation to his former club.
His first day on the job came on July 1, but now just five months later, he has left Old Trafford by mutual agreement.
"We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future," a statement from the club read.
Ashworth led United's recruitment drive over the summer as the club aimed to back Erik ten Hag, who they subsequently dismissed at the end of October.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte were all brought in to boost United's senior squad.
United lost 3-2 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, as new boss Ruben Amorim suffered a second straight defeat, and his first at Old Trafford.
That loss left United in 13th in the Premier League.
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