Skip to content

Juan Camilo Zuniga says Watford not intimidated by Premier League stars

Juan Camilo Zuniga celebrates scoring his sides second goal
Image: Camilo Zuniga was not fazed by Mourinho's stars

Juan Camilo Zuniga says Watford are not intimated by Premier League stars, following their victory over Manchester United on Sunday.

The Colombia international came off the bench to put the Hornets ahead against Jose Mourinho's side, before being fouled in injury-time to allow Troy Deeney to blast home a penalty and seal a 3-1 win.

Having already lost at home to Chelsea and Arsenal this season, Watford's victory over United - the club's first in 30 years - was also manager Walter Mazzarri's maiden home win since taking charge in the summer.

Live EFL Cup

And Zuniga says that Mazzarri has instilled a belief in the squad that they should not be worried by the names or cost of the opposition and focus on playing their own game.

"That is the mentality from our manager, a winning mentality," Zuniga replied when asked about not being intimidated by Paul Pogba, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"We don't need to look at the name on the shirts against Manchester United or Chelsea or Arsenal, we just try and do our best - that is the manager's opinion on how to play football.

"In football today it doesn't matter what name is on the shirt, you just go in and be professional and give everything. Each game is different but we do the same, we go out and do our best."

Also See:

Paul Pogba looks on as Watford players celebrate at Vicarage Road
Image: Paul Pogba signed for Manchester United from Juventus for a world-record transfer fee of £93.25m

The full-back, who has been capped 62 times by Colombia and played four times at the last World Cup in Brazil, scored with just his second touch having been introduced by Mazzarri with the scores level.

It was the 30-year-old's first Watford goal since he joined on loan from Napoli in the summer and his first goal for anyone since 2012 after suffering from a knee injury.

"It was a long time since I last scored, I can't remember when, this one is very important," Zuniga added.

"I had an injury before and this is the first goal after the injury, I hadn't been well for a while. The injury was a long time ago and I'm fine and try and help the team when I get a chance to do it.

"It (the win) is not thanks to me, it is thanks to the team. From the first minute we were doing well to get the points.

Around Sky