19 chimes VAL USES HEROES TO INSPIRE
WATFORD boss Valerien Ismael says the reminders around the club of their run to the FA Cup final in 2019 is motivation for his side to create their own memories this season.
The Hornets lost out to Manchester City at Wembley that year – but beat fellow Premier League opposition including Newcastle, Wolves and Crystal Palace on their way to the final.
Ismael’s side face fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton this afternoon looking to make it into the fifth round for the first time since that 2019 campaign.
And the Frenchman (right) says the fond memories of that FA Cup run were immediately obvious after taking over at the club last May.
“For sure it’s something that when you come into the club, you see in the building the pictures from the past and the memories, it was something big for Watford,” he said.
“It’s a reason why the cup is something special and can be something special for the club. It is a great memory from the past and now it is a chance to create our own memories.” Southampton sit third in the Championship under boss Russell Martin and drew 1-1 with Watford when they met in the league back in December. Ismael knows the challenge his side face but says the opportunity to take on one of the Championship’s top teams outside of their league campaign is an advantage for the club. He added: “We face a big team. At the minute they are flying and you can see the reason they are where they are. “It’s a great game for us so we are focused on the game and we take it as an advantage for us. “We know we have the quality. We played them already a few months ago at home so we know exactly what we will face but it’s a cup game so anything is possible.”