Quique Sanchez Flores believes Watford’s next Premier League match “is not about Everton”, but rather arresting his own side’s slump.
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Watford’s objective when they returned to the Premier League from the Championship this season will have been to maintain their status in the top-flight, and they are close to doing so.
“Watford led twice at Goodison Park on the opening day of the season before being pegged back twice, but are having real problems scoring – managing only one goal in their last five league games”.
Quique Sanchez Flores has accepted responsibility for Watford’s dip in form and admits the FA Cup is a distraction.
“At the moment the players don’t respond in the way that I like because I am not able to transmit the necessary ambition to play the matches in the Premier League. It is about what happens with us and how we are going to react”.
“Also the FA Cup is a distraction”.
“He gave advice to me about the Premier League, the conduct of the English players, the foreign players and how it is like to manage in the Premier League”.
Roberto Martinez insisted that Everton are not prioritising the FA Cup over the league, but there is no doubt that the semi-final against either Manchester United or West Ham United later this month is the biggest game of Everton’s season and arguably of Martinez’s tenure at the club.
Midfielder Valon Behrami will return to the Hornets’ squad after he missed the defeat at Arsenal through sickness. That’s why we need to control the level of performance in the game against Watford.
Everton have suffered three consecutive league defeats; they last lost four in a row between December 2014 and January 2015.
While Martinez has spent two decades working in England, this is Flores’ first year in the Premier League and he appreciates the support he has received from his opposite number. We have the feeling that everything is done in the league, but this is not a good thought because we need to compete and we need to add more points. They have expectations but it is normal to get pressure.
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Gareth Barry returns from suspension for Everton, although Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar are doubtful to make the start.
