Rodgers will get Wat for from Hornets
ADRIAN MARIAPPA reckons the return of new Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers to Watford this afternoon guarantees a red-hot clash.
The Hornets faithful have neither forgiven nor forgotten the way Rodgers walked out on them in June 2009 after barely six months at the helm.
When he assumed the reins, the club were heading for relegation into the third tier of the English game. Yet, despite saving them, he suddenly decided to quit for the top job at Reading.
Now, as Rodgers heads back to Vicarage Road with the Foxes, having controversially ditched Celtic five days ago, he can expect a hostile reception from the home supporters.
Hornets star Mariappa,
32, fully appreciates why they are still bitter after all these years – but is equally adamant he has only fond memories of Rodgers’ brief time in Hertfordshire.
The Jamaica international, whose Watford career took off under Rodgers, said: “We were in a battle against relegation when he came in. He did really well and kept us up.
“I really enjoyed my time with him and was sorry to see him go. But he was always ambitious and always wanted to go to a bigger club. That’s why he left. That’s football.
“I can understand the fans’ point of view and I’m sure the atmosphere here will be extra good on Sunday.
“Brendan is going to find the stadium rocking. Everyone will have opinions on him and they’re entitled to them. But we have to ignore the talk about him – and focus on getting three points.” That might be easier said than done following Watford’s 5-0 thumping at league leaders Liverpool on Wednesday. And, yet, with impressive Spanish coach Javi Gracia seemingly around for the long haul – he signed a three-and-a-half year deal in November – confidence in the camp remains high, according to Mariappa (below).
The central defender, in his second spell with Watford, said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the gaffer. He’s stamped his authority on the place and everyone buys into his philosophy.
“We’d had so much change with many different managers beforehand – so it definitely helps having stability at the top. The longer a manager is here, the better the understanding.” Watford came into the weekend joint-seventh with Wolves in the battle to be best of the rest in the Premier League. Wolves won yesterday and West Ham closed the gap behind them to just a point so a win at Leicester this afternoon would be a significant step in securing a top-half finish – or even better. Dec 2018: Leicester 2 Watford 0 Jan 2018: Leicester 2 Watford 0 Dec 2017: Watford 2 Leicester 1 May 2017: Leicester 3 Watford 0 Nov 2016: Watford 2 Leicester 1
Watford – 19 wins Leicester – 29 wins Draws – 17 LIP SERVICE: Rodgers has vowed to help Vardy (left) hit the same heights as Suarez (right) did at Liverpool