WATFORD defender Wes Hoedt once won a cup medal sitting in a hot tub in Ibiza.
The Hornets’ Dutch centre-back made it to the 2020 Belgian Cup final while on loan at Royal Antwerp from today’s opponents Southampton . . . but then Covid struck.
Hoedt said: “The final was supposed to be in March but football shut down and by the time it started again, my loan spell was over.
“I watched the final in a hot tub in Ibiza, on holiday with my girlfriend.”
Hoedt’s partner, Dutch singer Emma Heesters, realised the water might not be the only thing bubbling as Antwerp beat Club Brugge 1-0.
Hoedt added: “She said, ‘Your blood must be boiling you’re not able to play’.
“I had the feeling that it was still my team. I was happy they won the game.
“If they had lost and I couldn’t have helped them, it would have been even worse.
“My girlfriend ordered a cake from room service with some fireworks to celebrate. Antwerp sent me a replica of the cup and a medal and a load of gratitude. It was a very strange feeling.”
Today’s fourth-round clash with former club Saints also brings back bittersweet memories for Hoedt.
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He made his debut in the competition for the St Mary’s club AGAINST Watford at the same stage six years ago, after moving from Lazio the previous summer.
Hoedt, 29, said: “That year with Saints we had a nice run and ended up in the semi-finals. We were struggling a bit in the league so the cup was a nice distraction.”
Hoedt scored his first Southampton goal in a win at West Brom in the fifth round and Saints also beat Wigan before losing 2-0 to Chelsea.
They stayed up that season but things quickly turned sour for Hoedt when boss Mark Hughes was sacked in December 2018 and replaced by Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Hoedt said: “Now I’m older I don’t have any bad feelings any more.
“But the way it all played out was really painful for me. When Hasenhuttl came in, he made very strange decisions.
“I’m the first one to look in the mirror and say, ‘Wes, could you have done better?’
“That’s on me, that’s my responsibility. But the way they treated me, that’s on them and him.”
The FA Cup also holds happy memories for Southampton midfielder Joe Rothwell.
The 29-year-old, on loan from Bournemouth, said: “It’s special because I scored my first senior goal in the competition.
“It was for Oxford against Macclesfield in December 2016. I don’t remember much about the goal, just it going in!”
Saints are on a club record 21-game unbeaten run and Rothwell added: “We want to keep it going as long as possible. This game is another chance to do that.”
