Deeney is my Special One
NEW HORNETS BOSS HAILS TROY
XISCO MUNOZ has promised to restore a smile to Watford’s faces – and to lean on club “legend” Troy Deeney as his main man in the dressing room.
Former Valencia winger Munoz became the third Spaniard in 16 months in the cockpit at Vicarage Road – after Javi Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores – when he replaced the sacked Vladimir Ivic earlier this week.
In 45 minutes introducing himself to the media on Zoom, the Hornets’ 13th head coach in eight- and- a- half years smiled more than his predecessor had managed in four months.
And instead of laying down the law to Deeney, right, who has outlasted the previous 12 managers, Munoz will try to forge an alliance with the long- serving club captain.
Deeney was wrongly perceived in some quarters as an agitator who wielded too much player power to undermine Ivic and his permanent scowl.
But after just two training sessions with his new squad, Munoz is already a confirmed Deeney disciple, saying: “What I can say is that he is a big man, he is a special man, he is the reference point for this club, he is a legend. My relationship with him is perfect and I will need his help because he is the most important person.” Deeney, dropped for the 2- 0 defeat at Huddersfield that became Ivic’s swansong, later revealed the Serbian had banned mobile phones from the dressing room, an unpopular move among players wedded to their favourite toys.
But Munoz will adopt a more relaxed approach, saying: “For me, it doesn’t matter. Sometimes the players need to stay in touch.
“In football, as in life, you need to enjoy what you do. For sure we will have difficult moments, but if we stick together it’s more easy.”
The average shelf life of Watford head coaches under Gino Pozzo’s ownership has been eight months, and Munoz joked: “I’m sure I’ll stay for at least two months!” Don’t count your chickens, senor. For starters, Munoz faces Championship leaders Norwich on Boxing Day, followed by a trip to Swansea and an Cup third- round tie at Manchester United.