Sissoko backs Cleverley's vision and philosophy for Watford

The two seasons that Moussa Sissoko has been away from Watford have been tales of under achievement, and so when he walked back into London Colney in the summer it was a very different place to when he left in 2022.

He is, however, hugely encouraged by what Tom Cleverley is attempting to do.

“Many players have changed and clearly the squad is not the same. Of course the manager isn’t the same,” said the French midfielder.

“I think the philosophy is very different and what Tom is bringing to the club is another vision, and is more looking at the long-term but also trying to be successful in the short term.

“You can see the way we play that he is trying to involve everyone, even during training sessions.

• Moussa Sissoko exclusive interview - part one
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“I think we are doing things the best way. I can’t say we’ll be successful for sure but he is giving us the best chance and helping us to perform.

“We need to follow his way, and of course he is still young.”

The pair played together 26 times for Watford, but Sissoko admits he wasn’t thinking ‘future head coach’ back then.

“When I played with Tom I didn’t immediately think ‘he will be a manager’ but when I left the club and remembered everything, I said to myself ‘yes, he is someone that can be a manager’.

“But he never told me that was what he wanted to do!

“When I found out he was going to be in the charge of the Under-18s I wasn’t surprised at all, and step by step he moved up to the first team.

“He has known the club very well for many years and it’s a great achievement for him.”

In action against Mo Salah at Anfield. (Image: PA)

Cleverley has talked warmly about the leadership and example Sissoko sets, both on and off the pitch, and in games it’s clear the head coach uses his skipper a bit like a quarterback in the NFL, calling the plays and being the voice of the coach on the field.

“That is our relationship, yeah,” said Sissoko.

“Tom is the main man for the team, and then he needs some leaders on the field and we have a good connection between us.

“We speak about what we need to do and how we can improve, and I try to transmit that to all the players.

“I think it’s good to work this way: he’s on the touchline, I’m on the pitch, and it is easier for me to speak with the players on the pitch during the game because sometimes it is difficult with the noise of the crowd.”

Other senior players also offer experience and leadership – take goalkeeper Dan Bachmann, who ‘required’ treatment for an ‘injury’ in the first half of last weekend’s game with Coventry when the Hornets were being run ragged by the visitors.

“It’s those small details that can change games,” Sissoko said, with a smile.

“To be honest, when I saw Dan on the floor I thought something was wrong, but I knew it was also a good time to go and speak with Tom to change our system because the plan we had worked on had to change.

“It was very helpful for the team. After Dan did that you could see we were much better on the pitch.

“Experience means a lot and Dan showed that on Saturday.”

Sissoko is only four days younger than his head coach, and that means he is part of the ‘Over 30 Club’, a phrase that Cleverley often referred to while he was still playing because many people feel once players go past 29 there is a clock ticking down on them

“I’m certainly not the first or last player who will play on beyond 30!” Sissoko laughed.

“There are many players at the very highest level, like Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo, who have shown that.

“Football is not about age.

“Look at it the other way, you can have kids of 16 or 17 that play for the best clubs in the world like Yamal at Barcelona.

“And then at the other end you have players aged 37 or 38 that are still very able to play at a high level.

“It’s more about how you feel personally, physically and mentally. Are you strong and what do you want to do?

“If your body allows you to play, and you want to play, then play.

“For me I’m not thinking about my age, I’m just trying to be the most professional that I can and take care of my body, recover well, train well.

“I work hard, but also I think my genetics help me as well.

“I still do the work I need to do so that within myself I feel strong, so that I can be a good professional and that is what I have done since I made my debut.

“I am still here playing because I do the right things, and I will continue to do that for as long as I can.”

Scoring against Arsenal at Vicarage Road. (Image: PA)

The Frenchman is clearly proud to be able to help guide the many young talents at Watford, but he also stresses the need to let them have freedom.

“I speak with the younger players and I give them some advice, but I also don’t want to be talking to them too much either.

“They are young and they have to learn, and they maybe see something different, and the likes of Tom and me are here to help them.

“But also you have to give them some space and let them do what they want to do. They need the freedom to play.

“Young players have so much energy and they can create things. When you are young you bring that energy and creativity.

“I think it’s so good to have that young and fresh attitude in the squad.

“Everything is about balance. As soon as you find the perfect balance then it is good for everyone.”

The captain has been at the heart of the team’s engine room so far this season, playing a pivotal midfield role in the 3-4-2-1 formation Cleverley likes to adopt.

“I don’t think in the past I have played many times in a 3-4-2-1 shape and system, but it’s something that I like.

“When I talked to Tom before I rejoined the club, he told me how he wanted to play and I thought that could suit me.

“I have a good relationship with Tom Dele-Bashiru and also Imran Louza, and then we work well with the two No.10s ahead of us.

“It is a position that I like and I think we are performing well. Of course, we can improve more because it is a formation that is new for most of us.

“But we’re in a good place right now, and we just need keep building and working on the processes, and I hope that by the end of the season everything will continue to be good.”

Against Brentford in pre-season. (Image: PA)

Sissoko is clearly enthused about what Watford have in their ranks, but also very happy that – so far at least – the Hornets are proving the pre-season pessimism that was flying about to be wrong.

“I think we have a mix of everything: experience, young players, pace, technique, physicality.

“If you take all of those things and put it together, then we have a great team, and I think we’ve shown that since the start of the season.

“The funny thing is, I think many people maybe didn’t believe in us when they saw us in pre-season.

“Pre-season games don’t mean anything. It is totally different to what happens in the league.

“Even though we lost at Sheffield United and drew on Saturday, we are still in a good place and have shown good quality on the pitch.

“With the ball, without the ball, our mentality, the team spirit, it’s all good.

“I think people thought we would struggle, and so far we are showing those people they were wrong.

“Of course, it’s still early in the season. The Championship season is a long season and we have many games to go, but the most important thing is we are totally focussed on ourselves.

“We take one game at a time. Because we have won a game we don’t think we’re the best team, and because we lose a game it doesn’t mean we have become s**t.

“It is again all about balance. Think consistently, take it game by game, try to perform and in two or three months let’s see where we are.

“By then it will be more clear for everyone.”

One touch I noted is that Sissoko will often wait at the end of the line when the two teams shake hands before kick-off, and will then shake the hands of each of his own players.

“I haven’t done it at every game because each game is different, and so I do what I think we need and what is best for the team.

“When I do it I am doing it because I want to and it’s one way I can give them my support, remind them we need to be ready and the kick-off is only a minute away.

“Maybe other captains do other things, but I do what I think in that moment.”

Sissoko is undecided if coaching is for him. (Image: PA)

His leadership, experience, wisdom and desire to help others begs the question – what about coaching one day?

“Coaching is something that I like but honestly I don’t know if it is something I will do.

“I can’t tell you right now that I won’t do it, but right now I don’t think it is going to be one of my priorities.

“As a footballer you give a lot of time and you spend a lot of time away from your family and friends.

“If you become a manager, then you have to give even more.

“I don’t know if I will have the desire to do that, so honestly at this moment in time I don’t know.

“We will see how I feel later on, but I hope to play for another three or four years  . . . why not!

“So I will have the time to think about it, but at the moment I’m not quite sure what I will do.”

Having spent half an hour chatting to Sissoko, I can testify that any player or fan who gets the same opportunity will come away wiser, enriched and better for it.