Watford head coach Tom Cleverley insists that he is taking it game by game as his side continue to chase a place in the Championship play-offs.
The 35-year-old is a popular figure at Vicarage Road, having enjoyed a six year period at the club as a player. He landed the managerial role almost a year ago, impressing during his interim period before landing the job on a permanent basis.
There were rumours that Watford were looking at replacing Cleverley earlier this year, forcing the owners to put out a statement backing the former England international. The speculation coincided with a run of poor form, which game to an end with an excellent 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on February 15th.
The Hornets followed that with an identical scoreline against Luton Town before earning a hard-fought point at Stoke City last weekend.
Cleverley Focused On Millwall
Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio ahead of the game, Cleverley admitted that he used to be ‘obsessed’ with results from elsewhere when he was a player, but has since learned to focus on things he can control. Watford sit 10th in the league table, three points off West Bromwich Albion in sixth.
“We’ve been really good at it. I never was as a player, whenever I’d be in a title race or a relegation battle, I’d be obsessed with everything that was going on around that I couldn’t affect.
“We’ve got the blinkers on and are just focused on our own performances.”
He continued: “I was one for setting short-term goals and having one eye on the play-offs but we’re all in a much healthier environment, taking each game as it comes, not getting carried away with what other teams are doing, how far we are off the play-offs, how far we are in the play-offs.
“Well just play the best we can against Millwall and see where that gets us.”
Writer’s View
Tom Cleverley has shown he is more than capable of leading a team in his 12 months in charge and earning a place in the play-offs would be a remarkable achievement for both Watford. They are a club that have chopped and changed their manager on numerous occasions over the years and they have been wise to allow a little bit of stability. It’s no surprise that in doing so, results and form have improved. With just 11 games remaining, three points against Millwall would put them right in the mix.
