Magic Mooy makes Wagner a believer
WHEN David Wagner looks at the chances of his Huddersfield Town side surviving in the Premier League, he makes a clear distinction between hope and belief.
‘Before the season we hoped we could survive,’ the German said. ‘But since a couple of months ago, we have the belief we can do it.’
Huddersfield won’t get ahead of themselves, operating with the top flight’s smallest playing budget by some distance ensures that. But there is a quiet assurance that they can mix it with the best.
They have six league wins so far, the latest earned with Saturday’s thumping of Watford.
Approaching the season’s midpoint, they are on 21 points — halfway to safety.
Saturday’s starting XI had played a total of five Premier League games between them before this season. They are growing into this division.
Elias Kachunga’s opener this weekend was their first goal away from home in more than 12 hours.
Aaron Mooy, with a brace including a late penalty, and Laurent Depoitre added the others. Troy Deeney’s sending-off only helped the Terriers to emphasise their superiority.
‘We do believe. Why not?’ said vice-captain Jonathan Hogg, who was also sent off to make it 10 men apiece. ‘The spirit is fantastic and we have quality as well. We just need to take our chances in games. We did that against Watford. That was the difference.’
At Vicarage Road, Mooy was outstanding and fleet-footed in midfield, Collin Quaner danced around challenges on the wing — apart from the one for Deeney’s red card — and Christophe Schindler and Mathias Jorgensen were excellent at the back. Wagner won’t single out anyone for praise, but pretty much every Huddersfield player can be proud of the hard graft that has brought them to this point.
They enjoyed the adulation of their fans at full- time, every member of playing and backroom staff in front of the away end.
Before this season, only one promoted team had won away at an established Premier League club by a three-goal margin in the last five years. Now Huddersfield have done it twice, with this win following their opening- day victory at Crystal Palace. Watford, just a point above their visitors now, fumed at Michael Oliver’s decisions but will look closer to home for the source of their problems.
Captain Deeney saw red, as the Hornets had a player sent off for the third game in a row. Doucoure also earned a suspension for five bookings. Marco Silva is adamant his team do not have a discipline problem.
‘Of course, we need to be more careful in some moments,’ he said. ‘But we are not an unfair team. I don’t want to talk about officials or make excuses.’ Watford have lost four of their last five games, drawing the other, and the manager who was linked to the Everton job last month has watched his stock fall.
Silva added: ‘Just as we were not the best team in the Premier League five games ago, we are not the worst team now. I am sure of that.’