Watford manager Brendan Rodgers will reflect on an "incredible" 10 months when he leads his side out against Carling Cup holders Tottenham in the quarter-final clash at Vicarage Road.
Rodgers will prepare his Championship strugglers for the game less than a year after being in the Chelsea dressing room when Jonathan Woodgate's header gave Spurs the trophy back in February.
The 35-year-old left his role as reserve team manager at Stamford Bridge last Monday to take the helm at the Hornets and admits that the chance to pit his wits against the holders so soon has taken him by surprise.
He said: "I have set goals for myself all my life and this has probably come a little bit earlier than I thought but it was on my radar.
"I feel as if I'm ready.
"I travelled to all of the finals and was in and around the squad and was involved in all the preparations.
"That was a great experience for a young coach and those are the sort of things that most coaches can wait an entire career and not have.
"My objective is to be successful and to be walking out as a number one against the holders less than a year later is incredible. But it isn't something that has happened by accident.
"Without sounding arrogant I know I am good at what I do or else I would not have made the ride I have in such a short space of time.
"I have been judged and measured under pressure at a club where you have to fight for your life every day.
"The standard has to be high in your work but I see that pressure as a privilege. It shows you have a top job and I am prepared for that."
Rodgers' preparations were hit on Monday by the surprise resignation of chairman Graham Simpson but the new man in charge insists that nothing will detract from what will happen on the pitch.
The Hornets start the game as massive underdogs and Rodgers admits that his time at Chelsea means that he is not used to that role.
He said: "I've come from a level where the expectancy was to win every game. I've been in the dressing room for big games and felt and smelt what that is like, to be favourites to win every week.
"The pressure to win was massive at Chelsea which was a great experience to be a part of.
"But this is different. We are not favourites but from what I've seen of the players in the short time I've been here they play with their foot to the floor every time they go out there and are so honest.
"They are keen to learn and do new things and this brings an opportunity for them.
"I've been around the dressing room when Chelsea won this competition in 2005 and 2007. People may say that this is the lesser cup but it was a wonderful feeling and I can tell you that everyone involved savoured it."
