Reaction: Pezzolano On Charlton.

Paulo Pezzolano was eager to learn from his first taste of English football, a defeat to Charlton Athletic in the first Sky Bet Championship match of the 2025/26 season.

Harvey Knibbs scored the only goal in stoppage time, leaving the Hornets empty-handed at The Valley. “We knew it was going to be a game defined by details,” Pezzolano said. “This time, it went their way, but now we just need to stay focused and keep moving forward.

“I would have liked to see a little bit more fluidity in our game, but we need to look forward and onto the next one.” The Hornets were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty shortly before Charlton’s winner, as substitute Nestory Irankunda was sent tumbling in the box by Charlton custodian Thomas Kaminski.

“I don’t know [if a penalty should have been awarded], but it is easy for us [to call],” Pezzolano told the crowd. “We are all human beings, and we make mistakes. All we need to do is look forward.”

Although Egil Selvik will be praised for a series of excellent saves, the new Watford Head Coach was impressed with Danish striker Luca Kjerrumgaard after his first start in England.

“He did very well,” the Uruguayan concluded. “He’s a young player. In one-on-ones, the centre-back was extremely strong.

“He is constantly improving, but as a team, we have moments where we saturated the ball to Luca.” As the game neared the end, Pezzolano looked to the substitutes’ bench for changes to counteract the physical threat.

“In the last 15 minutes they were putting the ball in the box a lot – corners, free-kicks, throw-ins,” said the player. “I needed more physicality in the final 15 minutes of this.

“It was a moment in the game where I felt that the goal was coming and it was a shame that we couldn’t defend the last one.” The 42-year-old emphasised that his young Hornets will use the experience to grow and improve. “I am just thinking about solutions for the next match,” he told me.

“We have many young players who need to develop. It is just the beginning of the process.”

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