Watford ‘will not be afraid’ at Old Trafford – Flores

Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes Manchester United would have expected to challenge for the title this season, as he prepares for his first visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Flores’s Watford will instead face a United team who are aiming to push for a top-four place rather than winning the league.
The Hertfordshire club, who were promoted at the end of last season, would be just four points behind United if they managed a surprise win on Wednesday.
Flores told the Watford Observer: “I am sure Manchester United anticipated having a better season. They have high expectations and have very good players.
“I am sure they expected to fight for the Premier League title in this moment and they are far from achieving that objective.
“But I respect Louis van Gaal a lot. I have followed him since he started as a coach at Ajax. He is a very serious man who takes a lot of responsibility in his profession.”
Van Gaal has been criticised for his style of play over the course of the season, which has contributed to a lack of goals and under-achievement. In recent games, however, Flores has noticed a change and United have won three games in a row in all competitions, ahead of Wednesday night’s match.

“They’ve changed their style little bit,” Flores said. “They are playing less passes and are putting more crosses into the box.
“Of course they want to keep the ball, they have the most possession of any team in the Premier League.
“But in the last month they have more passes forward rather than passes to the side. They are more vertical in their approach. They create more attempts, put more players in the box and are having more chances.”
The former Atletico Madrid manager, who played for Real Madrid and Spain, has been to some of the world’s most impressive stadiums during his career. Nonetheless, he is still eagerly anticipating his visit to Old Trafford and does not think his players will be fazed.
Flores said: “It’s a historic stadium. I have coached in some amazing stadiums in Spain and in other countries and when I came to England I knew Stamford Bridge, Anfield and the Emirates from the past. But I have never been to Old Trafford. I am looking forward to it. It is historic for excellence.

“The players will not be afraid or worried going to Old Trafford. We have already played in amazing stadiums like Stamford Bridge, Newcastle, stadiums with 50,000 people. It hasn’t been a problem for the team. We are ready to show everyone we can play in these conditions.”
United goalkeeper David De Gea made his comeback for United, after a knee injury, in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Arsenal. Flores said that the player is like a son to him, having managed the player at Atletico while the goalkeeper was just an 18-year-old rookie.
The Watford head coach said: “I love De Gea. He is like another kid for me. I supported him when he was 18. The feelings that I have for David are amazing.
“I haven’t spoken to him for maybe three years. After the first game [at Vicarage Road] I didn’t see him. I know he was looking for me but I was with the press. I couldn’t say hello.
“I usually say hello to all the players I know in this league, like [David] Silva, [Sergio] Aguero and [Diego] Costa. De Gea is like one of my sons. I would like to say hello to him.”