Flores Talks Player Trust

Head coach Quique Sanchez Flores has said that he ‘always trusts’ the players and that was no different in the game against Sunderland this weekend.

Taking the one nil win and the Stadium of Light through an Odion Ighalo goal, Flores told the Official Site in his post game press interviews that whilst he admitted the fans may have chewed through their fingernails in the away section at the ground, he had faith and was quietly confident that Watford would see the game through having taken the lead early on.

‘I always trust in these players and what we are doing. Sometimes we have to suffer a little bit, but this is normal in the Premier League. Sometimes play is very open, like in the last 10 minutes, but in terms of the collective work I am really happy with the opportunity to give this win to our fans for these amazing atmospheres they are creating in every single stadium.’

Having taken nine points from the last three matches – Sunderland, Norwich and Aston Villa – Flores was obviously delighted with the current run of form that the team were showing, especially at this crucial stage of the season.

‘It was ideal. We were talking with the players before the match about how we needed to get three consecutive wins in the league. That was the challenge. The players made a very good performance and the first 20 to 25 minutes we played really well. Afterwards we needed to deal with the pressure of Sunderland, but finally I think the result is clear for us. I am happy with the points. This is a very tough team and a very tough stadium with a very good atmosphere, so I am really happy with the result.’

With a number of fine saves in the game, Huerelho Gomes was one of the players briefly interviewed at the full time whistle, and with three wins on the spin, for him it was about Watford not just surviving now – but seeing how high they could finish.

‘The target is to finish as high as we can in the table as it`s not finished yet. I know the Premier League is a tough league and you can`t sleep in any games. Of course it`s a tough period coming up, but we`re going to go in with big confidence and we`re going to play with our heart like we are doing until now, and this is the most important thing. We need to focus on this period and recover as maximum as we can, and now we can start to think about the Liverpool game.’

Sunderland was also the seventh clean sheet of the season so far and having recorded the first three wins on the trot since 1987, Gomes ended by saying that it’s something everyone can be proud of.

‘That`s great for us. I knew before the game that this would be a big achievement for the club. For the players, it`s a huge confidence boost and of course, we’re going to have a tough period during Christmas and we know that this game could be very important for us, so I`m happy with our performance. Overall we did great. It`s not an easy place to play and they had a few very good results in their last few games, so it’s always a tough place to play.’

Allan Nyom was also in front of the press, and he focused on the team effort in the game.

‘Every player helps us. It`s not the defensive line, the eleven players right from Deeney and Ighalo, they all help the team to not concede goals. It`s good, because in the Premier League, if you want to win, you have to keep the goals out.’

Grabbing the assist on the day as he put the cross in for Ighalo, he went on to add there was no pressure on Watford at this minute in time, so they were just enjoying it.

‘Today I gave the assist, another day, someone else will give the assist, this is football. I`m happy for Ighalo, he`s a good striker, and he helps the team. We don`t have pressure, we play like always, we try to win every game, but we will be playing against four good teams, but we will have to try and win.’

There was also words of praise for the travelling supporters.

‘They help too much, every game the Watford supporters come to help the team, and we are happy when we win.’