Walter Mazzarri believes Watford will flourish once injury crisis eases
Wednesday 4 January 2017 14:27, UK
Walter Mazzarri believes the solutions to Watford's current problems can be found on the treatment table rather than in the transfer window.
The Hornets lost for the seventh time in 10 matches as they went down 2-0 at Stoke on Tuesday night but Mazzarri is adamant his current squad is good enough to secure Premier League survival.
"The problem is that the January transfer market is not very easy," he said.
"In 15 years of my (managerial) career I haven't had all these injuries in one season but we've got enough experience to get back and improve in the table.
"We will see what players come back and when they will come back. The important thing is also to get all the injured players back and recovered."
The extent of Watford's injury crisis meant Valon Behrami started at Stoke despite coming off with a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace only eight days earlier.
The Swiss midfielder only lasted 45 minutes against Mark Hughes' men after appearing to aggravate the problem, with Mazzarri conceding he had taken a risk when selecting him.
"Since the total emergency we're in I took total responsibility for making Behrami play and we as a team all need players like him that will go on the pitch no matter what, and he gave a big contribution to the team," he added.
"Of course it was a gamble, it was my gamble and my decision, but this is something I had to do because we are in a total emergency."
Mazzarri's resources will be further depleted as Nordin Amrabat and Adlene Guedioura are now heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco and Algeria respectively.
