Tom Cleverley spoke to the media ahead of the Hornets' final Sky Bet Championship game of the season away at Middlesbrough on Saturday (May 4, 12.30pm KO).
Read what the Head Coach had to say below...
On the challenge Middlesbrough pose:
We want to end with a really positive performance.
We got the win last weekend [1-0 v Sunderland], but I don’t think it was a great performance.
It’s a team that I really respect. I think they will be in the mix next season with the good balance of talent and experience they have, so it will be good to lay one last marker down against a team I think will challenge.
It’s not an easy one for the fans, the 12.30pm kick-off. The players are in good spirits. I’ve not once had to squeeze them for enthusiasm since I’ve been in the job, and at this stage of the season that’s healthy.
On being reunited with former Man Utd team-mate and Middlesbrough Head Coach Michael Carrick:
He was my most consistent midfield partner.
For 80, or how many games I played for Man Utd, he would have been there for 70 of them.
When you think of Michael Carrick you just think class. As a player, as a person, as a coach, he just oozes class.
Someone who when he spoke, the room listened.
I’ve got massive, massive respect for him.
On team news:
We go there with a couple of additions in the squad, with Academy products travelling, which is exciting for everyone.
With Ryan Porteous we’re giving him a bit of protection for the summer ahead [Euros], but he’s also on 14 yellow cards and I don’t want to lose him for the first three games of next season.
Giorgi [Chakvetadze] has had this ongoing groin issue. Again we know how huge the summer is for him so we’re not going to risk him.
[Emmanuel] Dennis picked up a knee issue last weekend so won’t be fit to travel.
Tom Dele-Bashiru is something we’ve been trying to manage. He’s had a difficult time with injuries, a little bit of burnout and a few niggles. He won’t be in the matchday squad.
On the summer ahead:
It’s a very different dynamic as the finishing line is in sight for the players but it’s the starting line for the coaches.
We'll be planning pre-season schedules and loads, having recruitment meetings and getting the staff together.
We'll really be mapping out how next season is going to look, our targets and how we’re going to achieve them.
I feel like we’re a team that would really benefit from a good pre-season with a new set of staff and really improve on the identity we’ve already shown.
I’m trying to focus on Middlesbrough but after Saturday the planning for next season starts on Monday.
On player recruitment:
This is the newest experience for me. I’ve never recruited a squad together so I’ll be working closely with Gian Luca Nani and the Board, as well as picking the brains of my network at the bigger clubs on what’s available on loan.
It’s a process I’m excited to be a part of and I realise how important it is to get the right players to achieve our targets.
I’ve been involved in all the conversations, we’re collaborating really well.
I feel like my knowledge of the game is good, I’ve got a good eye for a player.
Keeping hold of our best players is going to be an important part of the summer but I’m excited for the challenge ahead of building a squad which will be challenging.
On replacing Jimmy Gilligan in the backroom staff:
There is space on the staff for one more. We’re on the look out for that.
We realise that person should be someone with more experience than me, Damon [Lathrope] and Armand [Kavaja].
We’re fairly far down the line. We’re working towards someone we have in mind who would be perfect for the job.
