As Watford's EFL Championship match away to Cardiff on Tuesday night entered its final 10 minutes, the Hornets faced a bleak situation, as they were trailing 4-0.

But, as Dionisi watched on from the edge of his technical area, social media was sent into a frenzy when talkSPORT prematurely claimed that he was set to be sacked by the club following the heavy defeat.

Watford ultimately lost the match 5-1, after a late goal for each side, and there were doubts whether Dionisi would complete his post-match media duties, if the story about his dismissal was to be believed.

But shortly after full-time, the Italian entered the press conference room and insisted that he could not answer questions about his future, but added that, as far as he was concerned, he would be in charge for the Charlton game on Saturday.

On Wednesday morning, talkSPORT reshared the story about Dionisi's apparently imminent sacking, hours before it was revealed that the head coach would keep his job ahead of the Addicks' visit this weekend.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, Dionisi insisted that he cannot control fake news stories, and that he is preparing his team as usual, after a routine meeting with the club's hierarchy.

"It is normal in England, in Italy and in other jobs for there to be news," he said. "There is good news, or bad news... or fake news, probably in this case.

"For the moment, it is fake news. But I don't decide about this. I decide the line-up, my wife, and I decide for my life and my team."

Conversations with the hierarchy

As revealed on Wednesday, Dionisi retains the immediate backing of the club's owner, Gino Pozzo, and will lead the side against Charlton on Saturday.

He revealed that, like usual, he met with the club's hierarchy after the defeat against Cardiff, and that everyone shares the same mentality to get back on track.

"Yes, [we spoke this week]," he revealed. "We speak every week, before and after every match, at the training ground. There is only one mentality for everyone."

Preparing to change Hornets' fortunes

Dionisi knows more than anybody else that something needs to change quickly, both for the club's sake and for the continued safety of his job.

He has revealed that there will be plenty of changes, on and off the pitch, come 12:30 BST on Saturday, when Watford kick off against Charlton.

"We need to try to change. We try to change the training, we try to change the lineup, we try to find the correct things to change."