Ranieri responds to question on dropping Troost-Ekong after big mistakes vs Leicester, Brentford

Published: December 14, 2021

Watford's Italian football tactician Claudio Ranieri was on media duties on Tuesday before his side's Premier League meeting with Burnley at Turf Moor.

One of the questions put to him three minutes into the press conference was regarding William Troost-Ekong, whether it was time to give the Nigeria international a rest after big mistakes that cost Watford points in recent matches against Leicester City and Brenftord.

Against the Foxes on November 28, Troost-Ekong made a schoolboy error when he ducked a long ball from Jonny Evans thinking that goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann would claim it easily but that unwise decision allowed Maddison to steal in and score the opening goal in a 4-2 loss.

The Hornets number 5 was scapegoated for the loss to Brentford after his reckless challenge on Ghoddos gifted the Bees the winning goal from the spot deep into stoppage time.

And for Brentford's equaliser, the Nigeria international was also culpable when Pontus Jansson nicked in between him and another Watford player and headed the ball into the net from close range.

Responding to the question, Ranieri told reporters : "I have to choose very well. I have to choose and I have to support all my players in this moment".

Tottenham Hotspur product Troost-Ekong has started fourteen of the sixteen matches contested by Watford in this season's Premier League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : lcfc.com

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