Troy Deeney feels Watford’s march to the FA Cup final proves they have emerged from the shadows to become a serious top-flight club.
Following a record-breaking season for the Hornets in which they amassed 50 points to finish 11th, Javi Gracia’s men now have an opportunity to end with silverware as they face Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
It will be tough against one of the best teams in Europe but the Hertfordshire outfit have already beaten the likes of Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace and Wolves en route to the north London showpiece.
Gracia has been praised for the work he has done at Vicarage Road and Deeney feels the Spaniard will have plans to deal with the threat of Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team. “Tactically, Javi will have us spot on but the biggest thing this season has been the fitness,” he told the club’s official website. “Yes, there’s the odd injury here and there but he’ll know what to do and for him it’s about enjoying it as well.” With the top six seemingly locked out, Watford look set to scrap with the likes of Wolves, Leicester and Everton to be ‘best of the rest’ and were in line to finish seventh until a run of just one point from their last four matches scuppered that.
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However, Deeney is adamant that the men in black and gold should no longer be considered Premier League minnows and deserve their shot at glory this weekend. “We didn’t get called out for a lucky ticket from a raffle to play in the final against City, we earned it,” he added. “We understand what we need to do, and we’ve got the quality to score goals. “We’re not little old Watford any more – we’re becoming a team others don’t want to play.”
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