Mazzarri desperate for Hornets fan influence
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri believes the Hornets need a vocal Vicarage Road to rock like never before as they gear up for a New Year’s Day showdown with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mazzarri’s charges have been a surprise package this season, occupying the top half of the table with just one game left before the halfway stage.
Yet despite their dizzying heights, the Italian manager is calling for their fans – who have at times have acted like a 12th man in home outings – to lend an extra hand.
Injuries to Daryl Janmaat and Valon Behrami have proved an untimely blow, and with Roberto Pereyra, Isaac Success, Miguel Britos, Adrian Mariappa and Ben Watson also sidelined, the depth of the squad will certainly be tested in the first game of 2017.
But, with Craig Cathcart also a doubt, Mazzarri expects the added edge of a London derby to be enough to see his Hornets through, so long as the Vicarage Road faithful help raise the roof.
(JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
“Now we need the fans more than ever, especially to support the players who haven’t had as many minutes in the Premier League so far,” he said.
“It’s a great chance for me to understand what these other players can give to the team, I know they will get that support because the fans have been with us for every minute, home and away.
“I hope Craig Cathcart will be back to help because he started training with us already but he still feels some pain.
“I can use him, he can be available, but he won’t be 100 per cent. Also, if I make him start from the first minute, he won’t play for the whole 90 minutes as he hasn’t got that in his legs yet.”
