Allan Neilsen has spoken of Gianluca Vialli's struggles at Watford.

Former Denmark midfielder Nielsen felt that Vialli was ahead of his time and that the squad was almost not talented enough to put his ideas into practice.

“Gianluca Vialli is an absolute hero and Italian football legend," he said.

"Initially I was very excited and keen when they appointed him because I knew his philosophy and how he wanted to transform Watford in terms of nutrition, sleep, treatment, playing. He wanted healthy professionals. He instilled a new philosophy at the club, players had to look after themselves if they wanted to play.

“He was really into nutrition, proper training and proper camps and maybe Italians were a little ahead of the English at the time when they came to the United Kingdom.

“Even though I was excited to play under him I think he arrived four or five years too early. The intentions he had and what he wanted was spot on but I am not sure he had the right team and set-up for him.

“He also brought nine staff members with him, which was too much for Watford. Everything was spot on and Watford tried their best but I think everything around Vialli and how he and his staff went about things in the smallest details was too much for our troop to absorb at the time.

“Don't get me wrong I loved that season but it just simply did not work out."