Watford boss Xisco Munoz has praised Allan Saint-Maximin and revealed the need for his side to stop Newcastle United in ‘transition’.
Xisco Munoz said: “Maxi is an important player for them. We know this and we have respect for all the players, they are a very good team, they have very good things and a very good manager. It’s a hard game. It’s important we have good moments in the game. And it’s important, what we spoke about the last three matches, we stay for a long time, at a good level in our games. They have different things, we will try to stop the transition. They’re very good in transitions. We will try to stop them and after we will try to give our options in attack. It’s important what we said before about the balance, that we have the balance in offence and defence. I think we can do it.”
The Hornets have made a solid start to life back in the Premier League, following up an opening-day win over Aston Villa with a victory at fellow newly-promoted outfit Norwich City. In contrast, Steve Bruce’s side are still searching for their first win of the season and exited the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle on penalties to Burnley. Watford did suffer a surprise cup exit to Stoke City on Tuesday night, but Munoz made wholesale changes for the third-round tie and the bookmakers have made the hosts the favourites at Vicarage Road on Saturday. However, the Hornets boss is wary of the threat Newcastle and Saint-Maximin in particular can pose with counter attacks.
