For Quique Sanchez Flores Watford’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester United was simple. A very good performance but a bad result. Any notion that the Hornets were unlucky was dismissed by the Spaniard.

The Golden Boys produced one of their best away displays of the campaign at Old Trafford. They executed Flores’ plan to perfection. Winning the ball high up the pitch and creating chances.

But the Hornets couldn’t take any of them. Odion Ighalo was particularly wasteful while Sebastian Prödl missed an excellent chance with a header from a corner, although replays indicated he was being held by Matteo Darmian.

There was little Flores could criticise. It is why he was so effusive when speaking to the press about his side's display after the game.

“We call it a bad result but we have a very good feeling,” Flores said. 

“I don’t like to hear the word unlucky when you finish a match. If people say it’s unlucky it is because something went wrong.

“We deserved a lot but we didn’t get anything. But no problem. That’s football.”

Flores was then asked if he felt Watford should’ve been awarded a penalty for the incident involving Darmian and Prödl.

The Hornets head coach usually shies away from criticising officials. So it was telling he commented on the decision.

“Normally I don’t complain," Flores said. “I think what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. We have very good referees in England for sure but sometimes they don’t see everything.

“Today I think it was clear. Prödl in the second half was very close to the goal but someone held him. This happens though. Sometimes it goes against you and sometimes it goes for you.”

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who worked with Flores at Atletico Madrid, made a number of key saves in the opening period to deny Ighalo.

The Spanish stopper waited at the end of the first half to speak to Flores and the Watford boss was delighted to briefly catch-up with his former player.

Flores said: “It’s been a long time since I talked with him. It was great to speak to him. He is an amazing player and an amazing man.

“I think he made three very good saves. He is always very important for Manchester United.

"He’s always in a good position, is calm and transmits a safe feeling for the rest of the team. He is very good player.”