Muñoz: “We Need To Go There Like Gladiators”

With 11 games left of this Championship season, Xisco Muñoz has his team united and focused on putting together a run to propel them to the Premier League.

The Hornets travel to South Wales on Saturday off the back of six wins from seven games, looking to earn three points against another of the league’s in-form sides.

“They are ready,” said Muñoz of his squad, ahead of the clash between second and eighth.

“We are building our process and our project, but I feel it when I look into their faces. I speak with them every day, I see their faces and I know the team is ready. They are ambitious and they want to give better for the team.

“We will see the results after, but the fans are happy when they see the team give everything on the pitch, and right now I think our team are giving everything on the pitch.”

It was clear at full-time against Nottingham Forest how much the players had put into that victory, and those before it. This is the commitment Muñoz demands from his players and now, having had a rare full week to recover, he says they’re fired up to go again.

“They play a lot of games in a short time and they give their maximum, they give all for the team,” said the Spaniard, who has led the team for 15 league games and one in the FA Cup over the past 11 weeks.

“They play with passion and ambition and give everything to win all the games. It’s brilliant for us, it’s very good when you finish a game and see your players have given everything on the pitch. It’s amazing not only for us but also for the fans to see.

“Nobody gives points to you for free, they work very hard and fight in all the situations on the pitch. It’s normal they feel tired when they play a lot of games in a short time.

“This week for us has been a very good week because we have more time for them to work and more time for recovery. They are fit, they are ready. We have full power and ambition and know we need to keep going and continue with this hunger to keep giving more.”

Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff City will pose a different threat this weekend, the team boasting strength and height in abundance as well as technical ability. Setting up in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 system under their new manager, the Bluebirds are unbeaten in 11 games.

“We know we need to go there like gladiators, play very hard and give our best, with power, intensity and ambition,” said Muñoz.

“We know what we need, it’s not easy the numbers they have. It’s excellent work from their coach, we have big respect for him. It’s important everybody knows this next game is an amazing challenge for us because we want to break this situation for them.

“Our team now has more time on the ball, creates more chances to score. We know we need to stay alert and pay attention with set pieces and we need to give them more problems. We have our style and our players and we’re hungry every game to take the points.”