A late winner. How do you feel?
Amazing feeling, I must say. For everything we’ve been through, in terms of having a lot of injuries, a massive performance against Leeds only getting one point, two big big players out with COVID and we had to play Vita [Janelt] out of position. So we were really hit hard for this game, going 0-1 down against a Watford team who have been in the Premier League seven out of the last eight seasons, I think they have around 1500 Premier League games between them, we have 150. We need to fight back, stay in the game, score in the 84th minute, never settled for a draw, keep pushing forward and finally get the winner. Everything is unbelievable and well deserved, all that put together – oh my god it’s a fantastic feeling. I need to say it’s going to be two big glasses of red wine!
How impressed were you with the players who kept after going 0-1 down after being on top?
I think that’s a big thing, because we were the best team in the first half especially before the goal. So, it was a little bit of a sucker punch and we conceded on a set-piece that again, we shouldn’t concede so we need to do that better. After that, I felt we lacked a little bit of energy and we struggled a little bit, but we still need to stay in the game. We talked about it a lot at half-time, do the same, hit the spaces in the 10 positions we had between the lines. We had Shandon [Baptiste] and [Yoane] Wissa a lot of times there, kept doing that, keep switching, getting more crosses in but more tempo and energy into the game. We kept going and kept going, which was remarkable and a fantastic mentality.
Two players who made a huge difference, Marcus Forss and Saman Ghoddos and both made the goals. How impressed were you with their contributions?
So impressed, unbelievable. I praised them in the dressing room very much. I said especially to Marcus Forss what a top mentality after maybe being disappointed not to be selected for the game against Leeds, not even coming on the pitch. Again today, I for whatever reason, picked another striker, but I just knew that he will come on and produce something because if he has that top mentality like other players have, they maximise their potential. He had a crucial flick, and brought energy, pressed, a presence in the box. Saman as well, ready coming in, first playing the 10 position then playing left wing-back. So flexible, something we worked on the training pitch of course. Very pleased with them.
Small matter of welcoming Manchester United on Tuesday night. Are you going to enjoy this and then go straight into Tuesday?
I will enjoy the 24 hours. Tomorrow, the players are off, some are in treatment and bits and pieces. Of course, I will start working after a good night’s sleep, but right now I just want to enjoy it.
Rasmus Ankersen has been a huge part of the club’s journey over the past couple of years. Was this performance the perfect way to celebrate his time at the club and send him off into the future?
I think you saw my celebration at the end, I was pretty happy and relieved. I didn’t see what Rasmus was doing, but I’m pretty sure that he must have felt as happy or relieved as me. He’s still here for the next game, and hopefully we win five more! He must be so happy, I can’t praise Rasmus enough. Of course, I would never have been here if it wasn’t for Rasmus, obviously it was his idea to get me to the interviews and I owe him everything for that opportunity. What he has done for this club, I think the triangle between Phil [Giles], Matthew [Benham] and Rasmus – I don’t think people understand how good that was and how much he added to the Club. He is one of the best innovative football/sports directors in the world, I’m not in doubt of that. I know he will have incredible success with the new company he’s setting up.
