I've just managed against Leeds United and they are already Premier League quality
Watford boss Tom Cleverley has hailed Leeds United as one of the very best sides he has even seen in the Championship, a team akin to mid-table Premier League outfit. It's some statement to make, but one Cleverley felt was justified after seeing his team dismantled by Daniel Farke's men in a 4-0 victory for the Whites at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets had no answer to the sting in Leed s' attack in the first half as time and again they found themselves pulled apart by the visitors, who had two Dan James goals and a Manor Solonon deflected effort to put them in complete control at 3-0 by the break. Joel Piroe added to the tally in the second half with an eye-catching well worked effort, with Watford having no answer despite their best efforts.
It left the Watford boss in full admiration for the team Farke has assembled at Leeds, one which the opposition manager aspires for his own side to become like.
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"We go to Fulham in the cup and you see what a midtable Premier League side looks like and that looks like something close to that level tonight. They punished us heavily and that comes with pace, quality and a very high calibre of player," explained Cleverley.
"We were in the presence of a very strong Championship side, one of the best I've seen at this level. It should give us as staff and players inspiration for the levels we want to get to. I feel all my players have the potential to reach that level but it doesn't just happen.
“I challenge them to be more intense in the week, more professional, you can always do more. As a player that level would inspire me to do more in my game and my life to try and reach it. Those games won't judge our season.
“It's a very expensive squad they have. It's unfair of me to compare my players to them and judge us against them. We can do better in certain aspects of tonight's performance."
