NEW Watford manager Claudio Ranieri is planning a feast for his players if they manage to get a result this weekend.
The struggling Hornets face Liverpool on Saturday in the Premier League and the visitors are the overwhelming favourites to win at Vicarage Road.
Ranieri, who replaced Xisco Munoz just before the international break following a poor start to the season, was popular among the Leicester City squad when he was at the club, buying the players pizza after a satisfactory performance and result.
This weekend he has increased the incentive even further, giving extra motivation to Super Eagles pair William Troost-Ekong and Emmanuel Dennis as well as their Watford teammates.
“I have to prepare everything well,” the Italian said during his first pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“The first questions will be to ask the players how they are, how tired they are and if they have any knocks. After, I will think about the team.
“If we get a clean sheet a pizza is too little. I’ll pay for dinner!”
Ranieri, who miraculously led Leicester City to their first-ever Premier League title in 2016, says he is hungry for success at Watford as they prepare for Saturday’s Premier League match against Liverpool.
“Watford is a good team, I’ve known the Pozzo family (the owners) for a long time,” Ranieri said.
“Once, 20 years ago I met the father of Mr Gino Pozzo, Mr Giampaolo Pozzo. He wanted me at Udinese, but we didn’t achieve it.
“Then when Mr Gino Pozzo called me after the Leeds defeat and asked me about coming to Watford, I thought, ‘why not?’.
“I am very happy to come back to the Premier League – one of the best leagues in the world. I am an ambitious man and I hope to bring Watford to safety at the end of the season and to also improve next season.
“I think about 40 points. There are 33 points to achieve now. I don’t know against who, I don’t know what will happen in every match. I want to fight.”
The third Super Eagles star at Watford Oghenekaro Etebo is out with a long-term injury and has had surgery.
Watford are 15th in the Premier League table with seven points from seven matches, while Liverpool are second with 15 points.
