Javi Gracia insists his Watford side need the points just as much as lowly visitors Southampton when the two sides clash tonight.
With an FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City on the horizon and the potential for a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, Gracia has enjoyed a fine first full season at Vicarage Road.
Southampton, meanwhile, are still not mathematically safe from relegation and are currently five points clear of Cardiff in 18th – despite winning three of their last five matches.
The trip to Hertfordshire is their game in hand and a chance for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side to all-but secure another season in the top-flight, but Gracia will be sending his players out with a clear message. “I think before playing the game, my players know perfectly that we need the points more than them,” he said. “It is the best mentality to get the points available.
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If we don’t play with that feeling it is difficult to get results. “They really need the points as well.
We try to compete as well as possible because I’m sure we will have to if we want the points.
All of the teams are honest and always they play very well and it is always difficult to get points in the different circumstances. “We have to be concentrated until the end, if we don’t do it in the next games, I’m sure we won’t be able to achieve the results we want.”
