Jose Holebas has spoken out about how he almost left the club following a miserable season under “selfish” coach Quique Sanchez Flores, but is now focused on earning cup success.

The Greek full-back is much happier these days at Vicarage Road after a difficult period in which he was sold to Watford by his former club Roma without his knowledge in 2015.

The defender admitted his first few seasons in Hertfordshire were tough, but said he is now finally settled under head coach Javi Gracia.

“I learnt a lot in the first season, how some people really are just selfish,” he said.

“I didn’t really step into it and said, ‘I don’t care, I will finish that season and try to leave and that’s it’ and then they changed the manager and then I was staying in the end and I’m still here.

“The first season was different, that was just to survive in the Premier League.

“I came from a big club playing football, I’m not shooting long balls, that wasn’t my way and I had a big conversation with the coach and he told me his opinion and I said ‘I’m not playing long balls’.

“I trained and did what I had to do, in the end he didn’t really respect me and kept me out of the team.

“It was a strange move, but in the end I was saying ‘okay, this club doesn’t really deserve me to stay over there in Italy’ because they did such things behind my back without even talking to me and that’s why I said ‘okay im taking the decision’.”

Holebas is pleased he made the choice to come to England and play for the Hornets and now wants to cap off his time here with some silverware before he has to hang up his boots, which the 34-year-old suggested might be soon.

He said: “I’m a little bit proud to be part of this project in the end. 

“I don’t know long I can do it now, but let’s see how far we can go with it. 


“I’m not thinking about the last club now because they did it in that way. If I win the trophy, it will be great.”