Ighalo: Flores is one of the best coaches I’ve worked with

Odion Ighalo says “intelligent guy” Quique Sanchez Flores is one of the best coaches he’s worked with – but insists he’s not setting himself or Watford any targets this season.

Ighalo has gained plenty of plaudits for the impact he is having this season and the Nigerian striker is similarly impressed with what his manager is achieving at Vicarage Road.

Ighalo said of Flores: “He is one of the best coaches I’ve worked with in terms of game plans and encouraging his players.

“He is a very intelligent guy and deserves big credit for everything we are going through now.”

The forward’s brace against Liverpool left him just three goals behind leader Jamie Vardy in the division’s scoring charts.

It remains to be seen just how many goals he can finish his maiden Premier League campaign with, but the former Granada and Udinese is refusing to set himself any targets.

“I give God all the glory for my goals and the victory,” he said.

“Last season I never set a target and this season I haven’t either.

“I will never set myself a target as then I put pressure on myself. I want to keep going game by game.

“When the team wins a game that is the most important.”

Next up for seventh-placed Watford is a trip to struggling champions Chelsea on Boxing Day, and Ighalo is well aware just how tough that clash could be as the Blues look to impress under new coach Guus Hiddink.

“It’s going to be a massive game but we are going go out as we always do and push teams, give our best,” he said.

“It’s going to be difficult because those players will want to play for the new manager, prove their position.

“But in football it is not going to be easy for them and it is not going to be easy for us, so we are going to have to go there and give it everything.”