MX23RW : Thursday, March 13 04:56:53| >> :600:151517:151517:

Gianfranco Zola targets Premier League return with Watford

Zola targets Premier League return
© PA Photos
New Watford manager Gianfranco Zola says that promotion to the Premier League is a target, albeit not an immediate one.

New Watford manager Gianfranco Zola has targeted joining fellow Italians Roberto Di Matteo and Roberto Mancini in the Premier League.

Collectively, Di Matteo and Mancini won the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Premier League last season with Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.

Zola was appointed as Sean Dyche's successor on Saturday and, while the 46-year-old admits that he is "already under pressure" to take the Hornets back to the top flight, he says that promotion is not an immediate objective.

"I was so pleased that Robbie did so well at Chelsea because we played a lot of football together and it gave me only pleasure to see him win the FA Cup and Champions League," said Zola.

"And I was very happy for Mancini, too, because he had a tough job last season and, to be honest, I would not have wanted to be in his shoes in that last game. I would have been having a heart attack on live TV.

"I'm already under pressure to follow them. Joining them in the Premier League is one of our targets, but not an immediate one. I've always looked for a challenge and that's what I've got at Watford."

Watford last competed in the highest division of English football during the 2006-2007 season.

ID:34014: cacheID:34014:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2384:
Written by
Robert Summerscales
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gianfranco Zola
Read Next:
Zola attracted by Watford ambition
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds372310474235179
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd37247652282477
3Burnley372015250113975
4Sunderland371912655342169
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371317747331456
6Coventry CityCoventry37168135248456
7Bristol City37131594740754
8Middlesbrough37158145748953
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn37157154138352
10Watford37157154750-352
11Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds37149145358-551
12Norwich CityNorwich371213125952749
13Millwall371212133639-348
14Queens Park RangersQPR371111154248-644
15Preston North EndPreston37917113743-644
16Swansea CitySwansea37128173847-944
17Portsmouth37119174559-1442
18Hull City371010173846-840
19Stoke CityStoke37912163750-1339
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd37912163855-1739
21Cardiff CityCardiff37812174061-2136
22Derby CountyDerby3798203749-1235
23Luton TownLuton3797213460-2634
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth37712183874-3633


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!