Quique Sanchez Flores has underlined the importance of building on the momentum of Watford’s promotion as the Hornets prepare their Premier League assault.

The Golden Boys sealed their return to the top flight under Slavisa Jokanovic but the Serbian’s tenure came to an end earlier this month when he failed to agree a new contract at Vicarage Road.

Bruce Rioch was the last manager to leave his post after securing elevation to the top flight with Bolton Wanderers, some 20 years ago, before leaving in the close season.

New bosses tend not to have the luxury of stepping into a job in positive circumstances but that is exactly what is facing Flores. And the Spaniard intends to make full use of that luxury.

Speaking to the press for the first time since being appointed earlier this month, the 50-year-old stated it was imperative for the Golden Boys to build on last season’s promotion when the Premier League campaign gets underway.

He said: “I think everything is possible. Clubs have different periods; sometimes relegation, sometimes promotion, sometimes they are growing, sometimes they are going downwards. But I think it is very important not to change the mentality.

“For us for example, next year I think is very important to keep the momentum from last year. To keep the momentum is very important.

“Today football is not only about the ball. The ball is very important but I think the emotion, the feel of matches and the sensations are very important.

“Sometimes, if you are having a meeting before the game you have to choose. I could say: ‘Today I am going to talk about the tactics’. Or: ‘No, today the group need a little bit of a more emotional message’.”

Helping a team battle relegation will not be an entirely new situation for the former Real Madrid defender, who in 2004 was handed his first managerial post when he replaced Josu Uribe as head coach at Getafe before the Madrid outfit had even kicked a ball in the top flight.

“When Getafe won promotion the situation was very similar,” mused Flores. “They won promotion when I was in my first year training the teenagers at Real Madrid but the coach did not stay with the team and I went there to lead the team.

“I felt the team needed to change its habits. We had to be better organised, we had to improve how we played. But the emotion, passion and confidence they had, we had to use. It is valid. And for sure, this is the same at Watford.

“The passion, confidence and atmosphere the fans created last year, we can’t lose any of that.”