The fact Quique Sanchez Flores says Watford’s players are starting their pre-season friendly matches tired only makes the Hornets’ victory over SC Paderborn 07 on Sunday the more impressive.

It has been three weeks since the Golden Boys squad returned to London Colney from their summer holidays and they have since been putting in the hard yards as they prepare for life in the Premier League.

Four warm-up matches have been played, against St Albans City, AFC Wimbledon, SC Verl and Paderborn, while Friday’s friendly at Eintracht Braunschweig was cancelled in favour of extra training.

It certainly looked to have paid off on Sunday as the Hornets defeated a Paderborn side who begin their 2. Bundesliga campaign this weekend.

Flores was understandably pleased with his side’s display and he praised his squad’s efforts over the past three weeks.

He said: “The last three opponents have all been different. Before (Sunday’s friendly) we just wanted a good dynamic in terms of the physical training.

“Now it is different because the players' fitness levels are higher. Paderborn were in the Bundlesliga last year, so I knew we had to give more and the players did that.

“We have been working for two and a half weeks with the players and I appreciate the effort they are putting in every day.

“Of course you are pleased to win but we are training every day and the players are not really resting.

“They start every match a little bit tired. Now we are looking for the mix between training, playing, getting good results and building the players’ confidence. I am very happy though and we are going in the right direction.”