“Listen, I haven’t arrived from the supermarket” was Slavisa Jokanovic’s comical response when asked if not having previous Championship experience has been an advantage or disadvantage this season.

It is an issue which has regularly been discussed before; the need for players and managers with experience of English football’s second flight when it comes to challenging for promotion.

To the reporter from the national newspaper’s credit, he was highlighting that Jokanovic, Middlesbrough’s Aitor Karanka and Brentford’s Mark Warburton have all been competing at the top of the division despite this being their first full season in the Championship.

But this is Jokanovic's fifth managerial job and he won the league and cup double in consecutive seasons at Partizan Belgrade before going unbeaten on his way to the Thai title at Muangthong United a few years later.

“Listen, I haven’t arrived from the supermarket,” Jokanovic joked. “I have been in football all my life and the other coaches are quality coaches. Brentford play very good football, Bournemouth play very good football, Derby too and Middlesbrough too. It’s what I like. All these people, we arrive from a life in football. The advantage of [Championship experience], I don’t know.

“This is my chance to work here. I want to take this opportunity with two hands and I want to push this team into the best position. This is similar for the other coaches.”

Jokanovic was also quick to highlight that the Championship is a bigger attraction across Europe than English football fans think.

“The Championship is very famous,” the Hornets head coach said.

“For you it’s probably like no one is interested in the second division of English football outside England. It’s not like that. My friends in Serbia watch Championship games on television. It has many followers around the world.

“It is not my first experience. Last year I watched Millwall against Bolton because I was in England, I found some time to watch a game in London and this was the only game I could find when I was there.

“Am I surprised [by what has happened in the Championship this season]? No. In many countries, this is a competition people follow and it is one of the more interesting leagues in Europe to follow.”

“I have spent all of my life in football. I am not surprised by it,” he continued. “I knew what I would find in the competition, more or less.

“It is a new experience to feel what it is but I am prepared and I believe in my team.”