“They were lucky” – Super Eagles star reacts to Chelsea’s win at Watford

Either team could have won a rather evenly-matched affair on Wednesday evening, but the Blues showed just enough quality in the final third to make away with all three points 

Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis has revealed how impressed he was with the Hornets’ performance against Chelsea, insisting that the Blues were lucky to leave Vicarage Road with a 2-1 win.

The reigning European champions were the big favourites ahead of the midweek clash, and they did their reputation no harm by scoring the opening goal through Mason Mount on the half-hour mark.

But Watford refused to roll over and got thrashed as Claudio Ranieri’s men gave as good as they got before Dennis smashed home the equaliser just before the interval.

It was a beautiful goal from the Nigerian forward. He dummied Antonio Rudiger with a stepover before his shot took a nick off the Chelsea defender and rolled into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.

That goal was Dennis’ third in consecutive games, making him the first Watford player to do so since Troy Deeney in February 2017.

It also confirmed Dennis has the Hornets’ most in-form star at the moment, with the 24-year-old now directly involved in eight of Watford’s last 10 Premier League goals. The former Club Brugge ace was also fouled for a penalty in one of the other two goals in that run.

Despite his brilliance against Chelsea, Dennis praised the display of his teammates against Thomas Tuchel’s men while highlighting how coach Ranieri’s philosophy is making them perform better.

“I’m really proud of the team because we played really well,” Dennis told Watford’s official website.

“The result is unfortunate; they were lucky to take the three points. The intensity was good and we’re slowly understanding the way the manager wants us to play. We can see the progress in how we play so I’m really proud of the team, we just need to keep working hard and the results will come.

“I knew if I tried to shoot, he was going to open his legs and I was lucky to score in the end. I’m happy with the goal but in the end we didn’t get the three points.

“I’m just doing my job, I’m really happy I’m here and I’m enjoying being part of the team. I’m training well and being positive, and I’m really happy.”

In only his debut season in the English Premier League, Dennis now has six goals and five assists in 13 appearances for the Hornets.