ALL CHANGE IN A BLINK OF AN EYE
Munoz: Win and I’m 6ft matinee idol .. but lose and I’m given short shrift
XISCO MUNOZ says he will take the blame for Watford’s stumbles on the road to promotion – because he is the blueeyed boy when they win.
The Hornets head coach responded to Monday night’s shock home defeat by lowly QPR by telling fans: “It was my mistake.” The Spaniard admitted he didn’t fire up his players enough.
But 5ft 8in Munoz expects to walk tall after meeting Coventry City today at St Andrew’s, where the 40-yearold is owed a reaction from his team after their insipid display against Rangers.
He said: “I understand how it works. When we win I am tall with blue eyes.
When we lose, I have only one way to react – I work even harder because the team is my big responsibility.
“I am the leader of this group and I know exactly what I feel, what I want from them. Yes, I said it was my mistake but now we have an opportunity to put it right and I have a big motivation to help the team.
“I have a good relationship with the players, I know they want to give their best for the club, but something happened we didn’t want in the last game.”
Munoz accused his players of lacking passion and ambition in the last-gasp defeat by QPR (Albert Adomah’s winner, right) which left Watford four points off the automatic promotion places.
But he accepted responsibility, saying: “It didn’t surprise me because sometimes these things can happen in sport. We didn’t want it, the players didn’t want it, but we need to forget about it and focus on the next match.”
Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong believes Watford’s bid to complete a home-and-away double over the Sky Blues, who lost at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, will be the acid test of their character.
“The moment has to come for us to stand up and we know Saturday’s going to be massive for us,” said the 27-year-old Dutch-born star.
“All of us were very disappointed after the QPR game and I think we’re going to see a lot of fire on Saturday to put it right. It’s easy when you’re winning and everything’s going well, but now you’re going to see the real character of the team.
“I’ve seen it in the changing room and know we can turn it around. This will be the moment that will make our season.”