Voices on the game... Watford

Have a read of what’s being said from inside both camps ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s Premier League visit to Watford...

Nigel Pearson

Watford Manager

Pearson was asked at his pre-match press conference if his side could be considered favourites to win on Saturday based on current league form: “If that's what people are saying, let them say that!” he replied. “We're playing against a very good side and again, what’s important for us is to go into this fixture with a positive intent. I think we’ve coped with the pressure of the big games that we’ve played over the last few weeks, a difficult games programme where fixtures have come thick and fast and we’ve been able to deal with that, even though we’ve probably not had as many players available as we would like through either injuries or suspension. We’ve had to really take care of the squad that we have available, the players have dealt with that well and this is just the next game in which we’ve got to be at our best again to have a chance of winning. I think that’s going to be the case every week.

“First and foremost we have to get our own game plan right but more importantly, on the day we have to be able to cope with the demands of the game. We know that (Spurs are) a side that’s got real pace up front and have the ability to be direct if they need to, just because of the sheer quality that they have. Having said that, we're confident in ourselves that we are starting to discover form that gives us a greater chance of staying up. I sense that some people possibly think that the hard work is over – it’s certainly not. We've given ourselves a more realistic chance at the moment but that’s all it is. The work we have put in during recent weeks and the results that we’ve been able to achieve are down to the application and attitude of the players. Yes, we’ve got some good individuals but the collective, the team spirit and the work ethic has been excellent and that’s the most important thing for us at the moment. Whenever you play one of the bigger sides in this league, you know that even when they don’t have key players available, they’ve got plenty of quality throughout the squad. It's about us concentrating on our own game plan.”

Jose Mourinho

Spurs Head Coach

“It’s always tricky, Watford. I always felt that every time I go there – great atmosphere, great support. The players are very adapted to (Nigel Pearson’s) style his of play, to his style of management. You look at that team, a very English team, I’m not saying they (the players) are English, but the style – very strong physically, very competitive, Deeney, then the runners after Deeney, very strong midfield, very experienced and strong centre-backs, a goalkeeper all his career in the Premier League, strong on set-pieces, strong defensively... difficult, but we go with our style, with our qualities and we hope we can get the result.”

Nathaniel Chalobah

Watford midfielder

“For me personally I’d like to win, and I’m sure that’s the same for everyone in the changing room. In the manner that we drew the game last time (1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), we’ll try our best to avoid that sort of feeling again when we walked back into the dressing room, because we had a lot of things going against us and we worked really hard that day.

“The working hard part of it is something we are going to have to replicate again. It’s going to be a tough game and we know that, but there are no easy games in the Premier League. Whether it’s a top six side or a bottom six side, it doesn’t really matter, we still have to go in there and try to get the three points.”

Gedson Fernandes

Spurs midfielder

“I’m very excited ahead of the weekend. I don’t know yet whether I am in the squad or not, but it is a Premier League game and I could make my debut, which would be a happy moment for me. It’s going to be a very hard challenge for me because the Premier League is a very tough competition so I will have to be ready for whatever challenges I come up against.”