Ivić: “Our Target Is To Play Attacking Football”

Vladimir Ivić would have the Hornets hit teams for six twice a week if he could but conceded sometimes ugly results will be necessary to achieve the season’s long-term target of promotion.

Off the back of a late victory at Birmingham and a draw to in-form Brentford, the Head Coach understood frustration around certain performances but reiterated that Plan A is always to control games and put on a show.

“Everyone can have their opinion about how we play; it depends on the players we have available, our situation in this period and our opponent,” he said.

“Our target is to play attacking football, with possession of the ball, and this is something we work on. It’s normal to have critics and for some people to be unhappy about the way you play or with the result. We need to be realistic with the situation we have at the moment.

“Sometimes you can win the game 1-0 in the 85th minute, sometimes you can win the game 3-0 or 4-0. In the end it’s still three points. All of us want to play good football and, if possible, score four or five goals and finish the game 5-0, but sometimes this is not realistic.”

When asked directly if he was happy with his team’s style of play this campaign, the Serbian was diplomatic and reaffirmed that work continues to put together consistent performances during what is a uniquely unpredictable season.

“Some games yes [we are happy with the style], some games no,” said Ivić.

“If you ask about our performance, I believe we have some games where we’ve played good attacking football with a lot of high pressure, a lot of second balls, and we have some games where we didn’t react how we prepared for the game.

“We want to have less turbulence, where in one game we play good, and in the next less good; one half in a high rhythm and the second half not what we want it to be. This is on my mind and we work on how to play 90 minutes in the same rhythm, in ball possession, to control the rhythm of the game and play attacking football.”

The football often won’t be end-to-end stuff this season as teams regularly sit back to frustrate Watford, but Ivić is determined to show his players, including record signing Ismaïla Sarr, how they can utilise their talents differently in this division when afforded more possession.

“We want to find the balance with all players and use the best qualities of all of them,” he said. “We know the quality of Ismaïla Sarr, but we know we’re in the Championship now and not the Premier League and it is totally different football. A lot of opponents stay behind the ball, we don’t have a lot of space and Sarr likes to play in space.

“It’s a different style of the game, how he played before and how he plays now. He is a quality player and has given us a lot until now. If you ask me if he can do more, I’m sure he can. We try to find space for him and for Ken [Sema] and for the strikers.”