Tom Cleverley insists he remains the right man to guide Watford back to success but admits it will be up to others to decide whether he continues in the Vicarage Road dugout next season.
Following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, Watford’s dismal run stretched to just one win in their last eight league games. Cleverley’s side now risks following a familiar path — previous managers Valerien Ismael, Slaven Bilic, and Rob Edwards were all sacked after similarly poor runs, and the Hornets’ notorious revolving door policy could soon claim another victim.
Asked if he fears being next, Cleverley replied:
“Time will tell.
I certainly feel like I’m a better coach now than I was when we were flying and in the play-off places.
So if you look at strategy and process then for sure I am the right guy to take us forward.
Now, that’ll be for other people to decide, but first of all we need a commitment from all the staff, all the players, that they are ready to go on this road.”
He acknowledged the demands ahead, warning there is no easy route to success:
“It’s going to be a demanding one, it’s going to be a tough one, but success isn’t given for free in this league.”
Amid accusations of growing apathy inside the club following three consecutive seasons of mid-table stagnation, Cleverley pushed back:
“No I can’t agree with that to be honest.
There are genuinely people who are at the training ground 14 or 16 hours a day.
I don’t think people would be doing that to be mediocre.”
He also challenged the players to step up and take responsibility for their careers:
“They know I am genuine enough to say I care a hell of a lot about the club, but I also care about my players as individuals.
I wouldn’t be helping them if I didn’t tell them what I have thought of the last couple of weeks to their faces.
Now they need to roll their sleeves up and respond: that would benefit me, it would benefit the club but, more importantly, it would benefit themselves.”
As another long and frustrating season at Watford draws to a close, the question now is whether the club’s decision-makers will back Cleverley’s belief — or once again roll the dice.
In other news, Tom Cleverley Fumes Over Verbal Incident as Watford Prepare to Report Blackburn Star
