Watford boss says survival key to signing big names
Friday 23 October 2015 10:06, UK
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores says the Hornets must show they can avoid relegation if they are to attract top players to the club.
A busy summer saw Watford make 15 signings in a bid to avoid the drop and they have made an encouraging start, sitting 15th in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke.
The Potters, promoted to the Premier League in 2008, have shown the value of sustained top-flight status, signing big-name players like former Bayern Munich forward Xherdan Shaqiri to the club, as well as ex-Barcelona strikers Bojan Krkic and Ibrahim Afellay.
Flores admits players are more reluctant to move to a newly-promoted side and says Watford must instead be persuasive with results on the pitch.
"We should not need lots of money, we have to convince players with our performances," Flores said.
"For Watford this year it was very difficult to make a team because I experienced this as Getafe manager 12 years ago, and know how difficult it is to sign amazing players in the first year.
"You have to prove you are able to stay in the division and show you are able to play well and fulfil high expectations.
"After that you can bring in amazing players. This year we have brought good players in but I have to work hard to convince them. In the future it should be easier."
Watford have been defensively robust so far this season but have struggled at the other end, where they have managed only six league goals - the lowest in the division.
They are without a win in three, while Stoke go into the match on the back of three straight wins.
"With players like Shaqiri and Afellay they have positive players who can make the difference with their skills, power and pace," Flores said.
"We know they are a good team and that it's a good period for Stoke. They have recuperated their morale. They are a tough team.
"We know in the last few years they have played a different style - very direct with long balls - but under Mark Hughes they have changed, they play the ball on the floor.
"They have gathered momentum in the last few weeks. It is a difficult stadium to play but we need to be positive. We won in a very big stadium like Newcastle so we are ready to try to win again."
