From Bolaji Oyegunle, London Watford’s Odion Ighalo has warned the Premier League’s top clubs to take Watford seriously, as they prepare to inflict more damage on Chelsea’s season.
Watford travel to Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day just one point adrift of the Champions League places — and 10 above the struggling champions.
Ighalo’s two goals against Liverpool yesterday helped Watford crush Jurgen Klopp’s team 3-0 at Vicarage Road and made it four consecutive wins for the Hornets. Ighalo has now scored 12 times in the Premier League this term. The Nigerian said: “They will have more respect for us and treat us not as a team who has just gained promotion but one who has been playing in the Premier League for a long time.
“I see the team working hard for each other, running for each other, fighting for every ball and I’m not surprised any more at how well we have been playing. We can because more upsets if we keep going like this. It’s not going to be easy at Chelsea because all their players will want to impress the new manager [Guus Hiddink] and it will be a massive game but anything can happen. We have to push ourselves.” In such an unusual season, Watford supporters could be forgiven for dreaming of European football.
They have just four points fewer than Manchester City, who were third ahead of tonight’s clash with second-placed Arsenal, and one fewer than Tottenham and Manchester United.
Yet Ighalo claimed Watford were still worrying about relegation. He added: “We’re not thinking about European football. We’re not safe yet and we’re still looking for 12 more points to be safe in the Premier League next season. Our main aim is to fight relegation. We will be happy to get to 40 points and we will be thankful for anything that comes after that.”
Liverpool were second best from the moment Watford took the lead through Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake, who took advantage of a blunder from goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. Ighalo put the home side further ahead soon afterwards and completed the scoring in the closing minutes.
Boss Quique Sanchez Flores said: “Of course we want to dream but we want to remain humble. This is our one advantage because the Premier League is very tough.”
