Gianfranco Zola insists speculation linking him with the Chelsea job will not be a distraction and says he is keen to 'repay' Watford for choosing him as head coach.

Zola was again linked with the Chelsea manager's job on Friday, this time by the Daily Mirror's Martin Lipton.

When asked about the Chelsea job after Saturday's match, Zola replied: "It won’t be a distraction. Obviously I am flattered that there is interest in me, I don't know whether it is true or not. I am a young manager and it means that my job over here has been appreciated. But they won’t take anything from me in terms of attention, focus and determination to do well for this club.

"I have found the perfect conditions here to build myself as a manager and I want to repay them until the end for the fact that they chose me."

Zola played more than 300 matches for Chelsea and was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1997 and the Blues' greatest ever player in 2003.