Alese: Juve got to build team spirit
AJI ALESE reckons learning from a club that wear black-and-white stripes has given Sunderland a lift.
But don’t worry Mackems fans, the ex-West Ham defender is referring to Italian giants Juventus and not hated rivals Newcastle.
Tony Mowbray’s men returned from a five-day, four-night working trip down south with four points from two games.
The Wearsiders opted to stay put in a hotel in between Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Reading and this visit to Vicarage Road.
And they followed up Reading with this point in which Alese and Jewison Bennette scored first goals for the club.
Alese said: “It’s helped us as a squad. I think some Italian teams like Juventus talk about when they go on a bad run they go away for a couple of nights and they can just focus purely on football away from distractions and that helps.
“We’re here to play football but it has given us a bit of time. You can create relationships with players you don’t know.
Know
“The manager has been here a couple of weeks and everyone is trying to get to know him better. Over the last few days we have seen a different side to him.”
Alese’s goal came in first-half stoppage time after Keinan Davis’ 35th-minute effort put Watford ahead.
But he admits it would not have been given a few years ago. Alese’s shot appeared to be cleared by Hamza Choudhury but was given by goal-line technology.
He said: “When I was growing up watching football it probably would not have been given. Technology helps.”
Watford appeared to be heading towards a much-needed win after Luke O’Nien headed into his own net on 62 minutes.
But Costa Rican star Bennette fired in the leveller three minutes from time to move Sunderland to fifth. Now he needs to work on communication.
Watford have a history of sacking managers. But despite just one win in eight games, Rob Edwards’ job seems safe for now.
Defender William Troost-Ekong said: “We’re all backing the manager and want to fight for him.”