Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores admits he is eagerly anticipating his side's meeting with Stoke City this weekend.

The Spanish tactician takes his Hornets to the Britannia Stadium for an important Premier League clash with the Potters on Saturday where he is set to resume hostilities with Mark Hughes.

As a player at Valencia, Flores came up against the Welshman when he spent a season with Barcelona back in the mid-1980s and is aware that he has a competitive streak in him that is sure to rub off on his players.

"He was there for one year at Barcelona. He was stronger than me. He crashed hard into players, I remember that," said Flores.

"He was always keeping the ball with his back to goal. He was a very tough opponent.

"But you can't make such a difference as a manager. Of course, Mark Hughes has the respect of the players and the league because he did everything in football.

"But fortunately we are not playing against Mark Hughes. It is the players of Watford against the players of Stoke.

"Mark and me, we are on the bench so our influences are limited in the match.

"I am not surprised the player I saw at Barcelona became a coach."