Filippo Galli will be returning to Watford to watch a game for the first time since his brief spell with the club ended in 2002, when he attends the New Year's Day clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Italian knows the club is currently in a tricky position, but believes they are in good hands with the Pozzo family, who he credits with their recent successes, and said their record deserves credit.

"Yes Watford are struggling at the moment but I hope that they can stop the rot and escape relegation," said Galli.

"It will be anything but easy, but I hope they can do it. In January I will attend the game [Watford vs Wolverhampton], my first since I left in 2002, and I hope that they will be in a better league position by the time I come.

"The Pozzo family have shown that they possess a managerial know-how and that they can run a club and make it successful. Pozzo already achieved important goals with Udinese like qualifying for the Champions League. Watford’s prolonged stay in the Premier League has its roots in hard work and excellent scouting. That said, Pozzo is a very prepared man and deserves credit for what he has done with Udinese, Granada and especially Watford."

Looking back on his time at Watford, Galli said he would have liked to have joined the club sooner, after arriving at the age of 38.

However, he thinks very fondly of his time at Vicarage Road and he said the club and the supporters remain special to him.

"It had always been my dream to play in English football," he said.

"And if I had known before how competitive football is there and how unique the atmosphere is in the stadiums then I would certainly have tried to secure a move to England much earlier in my career. But I have no regrets because with Milan we achieved the unthinkable.

"I have always loved the English game and when the opportunity arose to join Watford at the age of 38 it was a dream which finally came true. It was a no brainer and I immediately accepted [Gianluca] Vialli’s offer. Playing in English football, even it was in Championship, was fantastic. I have so many great memories from my time there and the atmosphere in the stadiums, even in the Championship, is simply extraordinary.

"Before that, I had played many years for AC Milan, which was the first dream that came true for me as a footballer. But living in London and playing for Watford, in front of the warm and passionate Hornets fans at Vicarage Road is an experience that I will never forget. Even though it was only a brief stint of my footballing career, Vicarage Road and Watford still hold and always will have a special place in my heart.

"The first game was against Manchester City at their old Maine Road stadium. My teammates elected me as the club’s captain and I led Watford out as skipper that day. So I bumped into Man City captain Stuart Pearce and manager Kevin Keegan in the dressing rooms. Even back then I always had a soft spot for English football and for me that was a proud way to start life in English football to be around two legends like that. Apart from that, it was the whole atmosphere around the club which I adored. The fans made me feel at home from day one and I am grateful to them."

Despite his team failing in their quest to achieve promotion to the top flight and finishing 14th, Galli still views his time in Watford as a success from a personal perspective and he claims, had he been younger, he would have liked to stay longer.

"I agree that from a sporting point of view it wasn’t a positive experience as the club finished in mid-table," he said.

"Our goal was to secure promotion to the Premier League and to reflect the club’s ambitions a new manager of Vialli’s pedigree was appointed. The hierarchy’s aim was to win promotion to the Premier league and the fact we did not manage to do that was a tremendous blow for any of us players at the time. As a result of the failure to get the club promoted, Vialli was relieved of his duties at the end of the season. I only had a one-year contract, which did not get renewed because I was 38 already. It would have been nice to stay longer though. But irrespective of the club’s shortcomings, I have splendid memories from my nine months at Vicarage Road. From a technical, sporting and personal point of view my time at Watford was unquestionably a success."