Irish Daily Mirror

GREECE FRIGHTENIN­G

Silva: I’m not worried about my reception at Watford..i’m used to crazy derbies in Athens

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MARCO SILVA is ready for anything the Watford fans throw at him today after surviving his tour of duty in Greece with Olympiakos.

Silva claims any hostility generated in England is nothing compared to the violence and flare-throwing (below) he witnessed during his one season with Olympiakos when he won the Greek title three seasons ago.

He recalled how one Athens derby at Panathinai­kos was abandoned before kick-off because of rioting by the home fans.

Another volatile clash with PAOK was called off when the PAOK fans threw flares and missiles, hitting one of his players.

Silva claims these incidents have prepared him for his first return to Vicarage Road since Watford sacked him last year and accused Everton of tapping him up.

“In Greece you play many, many derbies,” said the Everton boss. “Everything there is completely different. Here the organisati­on is different and it’s impossible for what happened there to happen here.

“One game against PAOK didn’t finish and one against Panathinai­kos didn’t start!

“If you ask me about the reception, in football you have to be ready for everything. I’m ready for everything and my job is to make my players ready for a tough match.”

The Portuguese added: “I have to be honest with you, the game is not

Watford v Marco Silva, it’s Watford v

Everton Football Club.”

Watford recovered from a goal by Richarliso­n (right) to go 2-1 up at Goodison in December only to be pegged back in the 96th minute.

Hornets chief executive Scott

Duxbury claims he will blank Silva if he sees him, while Troy Deeney has vowed to “kick the s**t” out of Everton.

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