Brentford head coach Keith Andrews reserved glowing praise for Igor Thiago after the Brazilian striker netted twice in a commanding 3–0 victory over Sunderland on Wednesday night, describing him as a “sensational” talent he would not trade for any other player.
The convincing win lifted Brentford to fifth place in the Premier League standings, with Thiago continuing his remarkable debut campaign by setting a new record for the most goals scored in a single season by a Brazilian player in the competition.
Thiago has now registered 16 goals in just 21 league appearances, including five across his last two matches, leaving him second in the Premier League scoring charts behind only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who leads the way with 20 goals.
The striker came close to recording back-to-back hat-tricks—having scored three against Everton last weekend—but an early missed chance and a precautionary substitution in the 82nd minute prevented him from doing so. Andrews explained the decision to withdraw the forward after he sustained a knock, despite the player’s reluctance to leave the pitch.
“It wasn’t an easy call, and he wasn’t exactly happy about it,” Andrews told reporters. “But I think he understands why it was necessary.”
Andrews went on to highlight not just Thiago’s scoring ability, but his all-round contribution to the team’s play, noting how his performances have evolved over the course of the season.
“He’s been exceptional—the impact he’s had on the league, the way he’s developed his game, and the variety of goals he’s scoring now compared to earlier in the season all stand out,” he said. “But it’s not only about goals. His overall work rate and selflessness are just as important.”
The Brentford manager emphasised that Thiago offers far more than a traditional penalty-box presence, praising his mobility, pressing, and effectiveness in multiple phases of play.
“He doesn’t just stand between two centre-backs waiting for chances,” Andrews added. “He leads the line, runs the channels, tracks back, and is outstanding at set pieces. He’s a complete centre-forward.”
When asked whether Thiago could force his way into Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, Andrews made his admiration clear, even while acknowledging the decision lies beyond his control.
“I don’t pick the Brazil team, but I know exactly how highly I rate him,” he said. “I wouldn’t swap him for anyone. His trajectory is only going in one direction—and that’s up.”
Thiago, who joined Brentford in 2024 from Belgian side Club Brugge after an earlier stint in Bulgaria, has surpassed all expectations according to his manager.
“I think anyone who says they saw this coming isn’t being completely honest,” Andrews concluded. “To come through that pathway, deal with a long injury layoff, and then influence the league like this—it shows he’s well ahead of schedule.”
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