Sissoko helped Cleverley when he took charge of Watford

He wasn’t the first head coach to try – Slaven Bilic came close to it in January 2023.

• "My toughest team selection to date' - Cleverley
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But Cleverley believed the French international would return to Vicarage Road as his contract at Nantes had come to an end, and so it proved.

Having been teammates, Cleverley was better positioned than most to judge exactly what Sissoko could bring.

Although their one season together at Watford was disastrous on the pitch, clearly the former Newcastle and Spurs midfielder had left a highly positive mark on Cleverley, and other players who were at the club around the same time have also since spoken about Sissoko being a great professional.

Those who get the chance to spend 10 minutes or more talking football and life with the Frenchman will quickly see what Cleverley and others have seen – a wise, fascinating but honest and humble man, who talks sense with a distinct air of authority.

No surprise, then, that Cleverley not only brought him back but made him team captain when Wes Hoedt left, and clearly uses Sissoko as his voice on the pitch.

However, what did come as a surprise was Sissoko explaining how he provided advice and help to his former teammate when he became Interim Head Coach in March.

“We stayed in touch when I left, and we would send each other messages sometimes,” said Sissoko.

“When he took charge of the team this year, we were talking even more.

“We were teammates and we became friends, and because I was away from things I could have a vision of things from outside the club.

“So I said to Tom when he became interim manager, I will give you my vision and what I think on what you are doing, and what I think you can do.

“I was trying to help him. I was watching every Watford game, the whole 90 minutes.”

Those conversations progressed further when Cleverley was given the job permanently.

“As soon as the season ended we started talking about me coming back, and I felt it was a good option for me and also for Tom,” Sissoko explained.

“So that was why we made the deal happen.

“I knew I was dropping down a level but that wasn’t a problem for me because the Championship is still a good and tough league with very good teams.

“I get to be in an environment where I feel good, I feel happy and I have a good connection with the players, the manager, the board, the staff and the fans.

Heading home against Crystal Palace. (Image: Action Images)

“I knew this was the right place to be. Of course I could have gone somewhere else like other players do, like Saudi or that sort of thing, but I wanted an interesting challenge.

“And also I wanted to come and work with Tom, so it was all together something that I knew I would like.”

His previous season at Vicarage Road was, frankly, an unmitigated disaster as Watford dropped out of the Premier League, had three different head coaches, only won two home games and lost 10 of their last 12 fixtures.

Was he aware of just how bad it was from the outside, looking in?

“Yeah, I was, and honestly at the end of the season it was difficult to handle it.

“We had a great team and everyone knows, including me, that we could have done much, much better.

“But for many reasons we didn’t perform and we can only blame ourselves as players because we failed.

“Even when I left the club I was still hurting, but at that time I did feel it was the best decision to go.”

Sissoko was accused by some of deserting a sinking ship, but even in departing the French midfielder tried to help Watford.

“I went to Nantes because they were willing to pay Watford a transfer fee,” he said.

In action for Nantes against Juventus in the Europa League. (Image: Action Images)

“I can’t tell you how much because that’s not my business, but I knew they would pay Watford the fee.

“Even though I had only spent one year at Watford it felt like I had been here for four or five years.

“Everyone here respected me a lot and treated me very well, and I said if there was some way I could give them something back then I would be more than pleased with that.”

He also explained why he left rather than hang around and try to tidy up the mess.

“I spoke with the club, and we tried, and honestly one part of my heart wanted to stay.

“But at that time I was 32, and I felt fresh and had a good opportunity to play at the top level in France and play Europa League.

“I still wanted to play at the highest level and in the end that is why I left, but I made the choice to join Nantes because I knew then Watford got something.

“And even when I left I was still watching Watford games and following them every week, and I was still talking to some of the players.

“And that is part of why I am back here today.”

He didn’t win Player of the Season, but many felt Sissoko was Watford’s best performer in that dire 21/22 campaign.

“It’s difficult to say anyone had a good season when the team has been relegated,” he admitted.

“If I take my own case personally, then I did what I could and I was giving my best every time.

“But football is a collective sport and that’s why it is difficult to say I had a good season because at the end we all failed.

“It was tough for everyone: I could have done better, and the team could have done much better.

“As a team we failed, so even if people say to me I had a great season that is not enough because ultimately we all failed.”

There were very few highlights, apart from thumping Everton 5-2 at Goodison Park, and beating Manchester United 4-1 at Vicarage Road – a victory that occurred in November and was the last time Watford won at home that season.

'That' game against Norwich... (Image: PA)

However, there were plenty of ‘lowlights’, and one personally for Sissoko focussed around the home game with Norwich in January.

It was a match live on Sky, the Hornets appeared to be in freefall but a win over the Canaries could have arrested the slide and galvanised the team and club.

As captain, Sissoko sent an open email to fans in which he urged them to get behind the team under the lights that Friday night at Vicarage Road.

“Yeah, I remember it – and we lost 3-0.

“Again, in every game I try my best on the pitch to help the team and to find connections with the fans.

“So when I did that message it was because we were in a difficult situation and that game against Norwich we knew, with a good performance and a win, could have changed the spirit.

“So that is why I tried to motivate everyone and to get everyone involved.

“But that didn’t work well for us. I don’t regret doing it because in life you have to try things, and you cannot guarantee success.

“At least you have less regret if you try everything you can.

“On that day it didn’t turn out to be possible, but that is part of life.”

Having left Vicarage Road in summer 2022, Sissoko could have returned within a few months as Slaven Bilic attempted to bring him back during the January 2023 transfer window.

“Yeah I spoke with Slaven on the phone,” Sissoko confirmed.

“I said to him that if it was possible to make it happen then I would come, but for many reasons the deal wasn’t possible and so I stayed in France.”

Sissoko in action against Richarlison. (Image: PA)

The two seasons between his first and second spells at Watford were massively underwhelming for the Hornets. Was he surprised at that?

“Honestly I was.

“At that time they still had a great team with some excellent players, and most of them knew the Championship and they had been in the same situation in the past.

“I said with the team they had that they would be promoted. Not easily, because there were tough opponents, but I felt they would do it in the first season, and if not then in the second season.

“I spoke with a few players and they said some things went wrong and I won’t go into the details, and in the end it was a big disappointment for the club and the fans, and also for me because I was away in France and I wanted Watford to be back in the Premier League.

“That is in the past now, and so this season we are trying our best and doing everything we can to be successful.”

• Part two of this exclusive interview with Moussa Sissoko will be on the website tomorrow morning.