Marinus: I’m the right man for Brentford
Marinus Dijkhuizen insists he is the right man to take Brentford forward.
Dutchman Dijkhuizen, 43, was confirmed as head coach earlier this week after Mark Warburton’s contract at Griffin Park expired.
A disagreement over the future direction of the club meant Warburton was not retained despite leading Brentford to promotion in 2014 and then last season’s Championship play-offs.
Eyebrows have been raised at club owner Matthew Benham’s decision to make the change.
“I think it is a brave decision, but I fit as a person and as a trainer with the club,” Dijkhuizen said.
“I like a story and it is a good moment to come here. Brentford want to go further and I want to go further.
“They have a clear vision and it’s a little bit of a new one. It’s rational thinking and that’s the right way.”
Dijkhuizen arrives from Excelsior, having guided the Rotterdam club into the Netherlands’ top flight and then kept them there last season despite budgetary constraints.
He favours the 4-3-3 formation often used by Brentford to good effect last season and says he is keen for the team to play with an attacking style.
And he will be given time to establish his ideas, according to co-director of football Rasmus Ankersen, who is adamant that Dijkhuizen will not be ditched if he fails to make a good start.
Ankersen, who is chairman of FC Midtjylland, the Danish club also owned by Benham, said: “Marinus definitely has our support. He has shown [at Excelsior] he can create results.
“One of football’s problems is when you make decisions on a temporary variation in results. This short-termism is causing a lot of bad decisions.
“The job he did in Excelsior was magnificent and we think giving him the opportunity he can do really well.”
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