The outgoing Watford head coach is optimistic the Hornets can build from the foundations that have been established in the Premier League this season, but acknowledged they have lost intensity in the closing stages of this campaign.

The Golden Boys twice had to come from behind to ensure Quique Sanchez Flores’ year at the helm didn’t end on a losing note in this afternoon’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland and they also had the benefit of two favourable offside decisions as the Black Cats had two goals disallowed.

Having reflected emotionally on his time at the helm, Flores said of today’s draw: “The context of the last match for Watford is not the context of the intensity of the matches in the Premier League. For us the matches we played in the last month is completely different.

“But we played well, we create chances, we concede goals and then we need to score but this means we lost intensity and the necessary attention to remain completely competitive. But we know perfectly in football that is possible. But we conserved our position in the league today.”

The Hornets are all but certain to finish 13th in their first season back in the top flight – barring the unthinkable happening in Bournemouth’s rearranged trip to Manchester United following today’s abandonment – and Flores is optimistic the club continue to progress when more quality is added to the squad.

He said: “I think the first year is the most difficult year. We tried to build the squad during the first season [and it] was difficult because the players want security and they want to go to a team that is consistent and Watford is new and now Watford is not completely new. Watford is now established in a good position in the Premier League.

“For the next year a lot of players are coming, coming with more quality, with the base of this year, they can try to build the performance in the league definitely.”