Saturday 26 December 2015 14:15, UK
Quique Sanchez Flores admits he might struggle not to call Guus Hiddink 'boss' when they meet on the touchline at Stamford Bridge.
Flores played under Hiddink for three years at Valencia but now locks horns with him as a manager when his Watford side travel to Chelsea.
The Boxing Day clash will be Hiddink's first game in charge since he returned to the Blues following Jose Mourinho's sacking, and Flores is a huge admirer of the veteran Dutchman.
"Is he one of the best managers I played for? Yes, of course, he's a very good manager," said the Spaniard.
"When he was coaching us, we always achieved our objectives. At Valencia, we were always in the top four. We played well. It was fun to go to training because always we were playing with the ball.
"Normally the teams of Hiddink play offensive, always, so it is difficult to stop it.
"The players connect a lot with him. That was my experience. They use his close mentality to connect with him. So it's funny, it's normal to work with him. He is close to his players and you feel confidence in this type of manager.
"It's difficult for me to know what to call him. It's strange for him to say 'okay, you're a manager'. He knows me as a player, not like a coach.
"The experiences I have had when coaches managed me and then I manage against them is always funny. In this case with Hiddink it will be very special. I am looking forward to it."
The Hornets travel to west London on the back of four straight wins and currently lie 10 points ahead of Chelsea, and just one off the Champions League spots.
