Perhaps it was lost in translation or maybe, just for a moment, Hornets head coach Quique Sanchez Flores let his guard down when he suggested Watford have signed too many players this summer.

Comings and goings at Vicarage Road dictated the post-match questioning following the Golden Boys’ goalless draw against Southampton today, with Matej Vydra’s future top of the agenda.

The Spaniard was asked – with hindsight – whether or not he might have put Vydra in the squad over Fernando Forestieri as the Czech striker’s pace could have helped unlock a stubborn Southampton defence.

In reply, Flores said: “My reflection is not in this moment but maybe that will come tomorrow when I have refreshed my mind.

“During the match it is not easy to change players. (Odion) Ighalo is a unique player who has been scoring goals in the last 20 games. So I want to keep on Ighalo because he brings goals to this team.

“(Troy) Deeney is fighting with central defenders every time, (Jose Manuel) Jurado is one of the best players in the game and (Alessandro) Diamanti has come on in the second half and has added a lot of things.

“We are a new team and we are creating a new base. We have how many new players? Too much.”

Flores has a say in transfer dealings at Watford but does not hold the ultimate power of veto. That responsibility lies with the club’s transfer committee, which Flores is a part of.

But when asked if he felt the 12 signings made this summer had been too many, the former Atletico Madrid boss was guarded once more.

“It is difficult to change things during matches,” he said. “It is important that we do not create doubts in the players. So sometimes I try and be delicate with my decisions during the matches.”

Premier League clubs must submit a 25-man squad on September 3 which includes a maximum of 17 players who do not qualify as home grown. At present there are 21 foreign players at the club meaning Flores will have to offload regardless of whether any more signings are made.

On Thursday he confirmed two further additions were expected and when the subject was brought up again today, he was at pains to stress the importance of balancing the squad.

“It is difficult because I want the players to feel happy,” explained Flores. “We have a lot of players who are not on the list and there a lot of players who want the possibility to play.

“It is not easy for me. I want to clear up this situation this week and it will be a little bit different. I can’t talk about names because maybe I would say a name that we would then keep in the squad. We won’t make our decision until the last moment.”

One name Flores did give an indication as to the future of was forward Forestieri, though the Italian is reportedly subject of a bid from Championship side Leeds United.

“Forestieri, for me, is the kind of player who can stay in the squad,” stated Flores. “We have a lot of players who in the last year have participated a lot and there are other players who have not participated as much.

“But we have them training in the squad and they will until the last moment. We will give all the players an opportunity until the last moment.”