Watford boss hails Giorgi's 'quality strike and performance'

Mileta Rajovic may well justifiably draw many of the headlines because of his late winner, but the Hornets head coach was quick to highlight the all-round display given by the Georgian international.

A success for his country at the Euro 24 finals, Chakvetadze continued that form when he returned for the second half of pre-season, and then showed at The Den just why he will be a key figure for Watford this season.

With 100% of his aerial duals won, 100% crossing accuracy and 100% long-ball accuracy, and 31 of 37 passes overall being successful, Chakvetadze’s stats backed up exactly what made Cleverley sing his praises.

“He showed sheer class in the last three games of pre-season and then today again,” said Cleverley.

“He’s in a really good moment and he’s someone I enjoy watching train and play.

“It was a beautiful strike and I thought his all-round performance was top today.

“Quality strike and a quality performance.”

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Was the Hornets boss expecting a shot when Chakvetadze was stood over the ball at the free-kick?

“Yeah I was. When I saw the left-footer step away from the ball, I was expecting a shot,” he said.

“It was a sweet strike but I can’t take any credit for it. It’s not something that we practice week in, week out, taking 25-yard free kicks.

“He just showed his class in that moment.”

Goalscorer and head coach celebrate. (Image: PA)

There would have few, if any, who predicted Watford’s first two goals of the season would come from set pieces – and surely nobody had Edo Kayembe direct from a corner as their tip for the opener!

“We put massive work in on offensive set pieces in pre-season because it was something I recognised we weren’t dangerous enough from in my nine games at the end of last season,” said the Watford boss.

“We’d been really close to scoring from them in pre-season without just having that final touch.

“We’d mentioned it before that maybe today was the day, and I’m happy to improve our offensive set pieces record with two good goals.”

Cleverley was also pleased with the way his players dealt with what is always one of the toughest challenges of the season, a game at The Den and the atmosphere their fans create.

Watford's players celebrate with the travelling fans at the end of the game. (Image: PA)

“It’s never an easy place to come and I expected the start of the game to go the way it did.

“We knew we’d have to be competitive and to win first and second contacts, and we did that and got containment on the game and a real foothold in it.

“Scoring the first goal always helps, and then I thought we were efficient enough in possession to cut through them a few times and create opportunities and moments.

“When we got the second goal it probably was against the run of the play, as they were coming on top at that point.

“Then we didn’t manage the game how we’d like to. I’d prefer it to be much more comfortable than that, we know how to do that and I said to the players that nobody was hiding, they all wanted the ball, they were all trying to share around the pressure.

“It was just technical mistakes, but that will get better with work, with belief.

“And then we showed huge character to come back after conceding two goals.

“We showed big character to score to make it 2-0 when they were on top, and then huge character to get the winner.

“It’s the bit in between that we will address, and get better at managing the game.”