Muñoz: “We Need Everyone”

Xisco Muñoz will be without skipper Troy Deeney for a period as he recovers from damage to his Achilles tendon, but the Head Coach knows he has leaders throughout his squad.

Tom Cleverley will wear the armband again when Derby County visit Vicarage Road tomorrow night with the Hornets looking to make it three wins in a row for the second time this season.

“We need to come into the game with a big intensity, be clever and have maximum aggression,” said the Head Coach. “We know we have a big challenge, we have in front of us a very good team, so it’s important to have a good mentality.”

“Troy is the captain all the time, but other experienced players are out too, like Foster, like Kabasele. It’s important the experienced players stay with us, and also the captains every time help us on and off the pitch. Now is the moment for other leaders to give their maximum on the pitch.”

Between the victories against Bristol City and Preston North End, Muñoz made only one change to his starting line-up. But he knows there is talent waiting in the wings and added that each player appreciates their chance will come.

“I’ve spoken before about rotation, it’s important and we need everyone,” said the Spaniard. “Everybody knows now is an important moment for us and all the players are important for me. We will see what is the first XI in the next game, but we have a lot of games and it’s important we try to put who is better in this moment in for this game.

“I have a very good squad, we need to keep a high level and we need a consistent team to try to give our best level. Sometimes I tell the players ‘sorry I can only put 11 players on the pitch, you are talented and maybe we can speak with FIFA and change the rules!’

“When you are a coach this is the perfect problem to have. The players understand we have an excellent squad, and they need sometimes to wait for their moment and work very hard for when I need them.”

Watford have six wins and two draws from Muñoz’s ten league games in charge and are starting to build up a head of steam. The Head Coach refused to be drawn on looking too far ahead though, knowing how quickly ground can be lost at the top end of the table.

“The Championship is long and right now we’re only thinking about the next game,” he said. “It’s important to work game by game and we need to keep at a high level. If our team is at a high level, we will see what happens.

“The most important thing now is to continue working hard, make no excuses. We know all the games are difficult because when everyone plays against us it’s an important game. But it’s important our team try to give our best in all the games, and then we’ll see what happens.”