Troy Deeney reunites with Javi Gracia with interview on manager’s return to Watford

Troy Deeney reunites with his former boss Javi Gracia with a special interview on the manager’s return to Watford.

Javi Gracia reflects on his return to the club, reminiscing about their historic 2019 FA Cup final run and his abrupt departure later that year.

Gracia discusses his initial impressions of the squad, and expressed excitement to reconnect with fans and rebuild team unity with a younger squad, particularly praising the potential of players like Kwadwo Baah.

He made clear the importance of family, his passion for coaching, and his commitment to instilling belief and hard work to revive Watford’s spirit.

Deeney: “When you think back to moments from his previous time in charge of Watford, how does that shape now? Because you will have difficult moments in the season. It’s the Championship, it’s normal. Are you better for going through these moments? And maybe the moments at Leeds as well?”

Javi: “Yeah, I try to manage always more or less the same… Not the same, but try to manage the same way.

“Working hard, be dedicated, try to live the moment with passion, with desire, all these kind of things. But the results don’t always depend on these kind of things.

Deeney: “Of course.”

Javi: “Sometimes they depend on other things.”

Deeney: “Yeah, the moments, the feeling. t’s good to see so many normal faces. People you’ve seen before. It helps with the transition.”

Javi: “Yeah. It’s easier to arrive at one place and see the people you know a long time ago. Of course, it’s easier for me to arrive this way and to try to do my job properly.”

Deeney: “Yeah. We have the fans. They’re very excited that you’re back. How do you get the fans smiling, singing and believing in this team again?”

Javi: “It’s one of the main reasons why I am here. To live this experience again. To go to Vicarage Road and to feel that atmosphere. I had very good experiences there and I want to live again.”

Deeney: “And now we see the family. Yeah, the kids. They’re not this small anymore, no?”

Javi: “No. The oldest one, now 19. Wow. He’s a big man. And the other two, 16, are twins. And now they are living in Spain, in Malaga. And they are waiting for the moment to come here.

“If we can organise all the schools, the programmes, different programmes, because they are now in a moment when they are two years from the university. We’ll see.”

Deeney: “What does family mean to you?”

Javi: “My family is the reason because I live. I try to live all my experience in different countries, in different clubs, always with them.

“In this case, it’s not possible. But it’s the main reason I like to spend all the time with my family. They are all for me.”

Deeney: “How much… Because the obvious question is how much does this club mean to you? But how difficult is it because you were so successful in your time here? How much more difficult now is it to manage expectations?”

Javi: “I don’t know how successful I was in the past. If I was successful, it was because I had a very good squad. You know, I always told you the main actors, the main protagonists are the players.

“I like all the people involved in their jobs knowing they have part of something. They are part of something important. And all of us make our job.

“And my position is to be the coach, the manager, try to take some decisions. It’s not easy because, as I told you many times, for me the most difficult decisions are always choose 11 players, put other players out. It’s hard for me. But it’s my job and I have to do it.”

Deeney: “I think when I look in this team now, it’s a younger group and you’re trying to develop the leaders. How important will it be for you to try and make this again, the whole place come together? Because I think from the outside many fans will think it’s disconnected now.”

Javi: “What you say about the squad now, of course they are young players. They need time to improve, to know many things.

“Maybe in this moment they don’t know. I was fortunate to have players like you, like others in that squad. It was easier for me to do my job.

Deeney: “So I just want to talk about the new squad because there’s three players that come to mind for me that I think both you and the team, especially Juan, will get the best out of these players. The first one is Baah, you see him here.

“Big, physical player, very excited, very fast. Inconsistent. But also I think needs love but a smack as well, you know? Like a smack on the backside, like let’s go. So how have you been impressed with him so far?”

Javi: “In my opinion, as you say, physically he’s something amazing. A young player, I think he needs help in terms of organisation, trying to be more constant, to be part of the team, defending, attacking. But he has the skill to improve, and I believe he can be a very, very good player and improve with us.

Deeney: “In my opinion, two of the best players in the league now, and in Chakvetadze. Obviously, a lot of talk about maybe he would leave in the summer, but now he’s here, he’s focused, he’s shaving all his hair. Yeah. He wants to show you he’s ready for the fight. Do you know much about this player? Have you seen much about him?”

Javi: “Yeah, yeah. I know him perfectly. Now he’s injured, he’s training out, but, yeah, he’s a player with qualities. In possession, he’s differential.

“And, yeah, important player for the team. When he recovers, he will be really important for us.”

Deeney: “And then this guy here, Imran Louza, who, for me, is too good for this level in terms of qualities, but now has to show it consistently, and he’s the captain of the team. How do you get the best out of him? But also, he’s not a natural leader, in my opinion. Somebody that takes the team and says, “Today we do this”. How do you work with him and that wonderful left foot he has?”

Javi: “Yeah, maybe he has a different personality than a captain. It’s more in how he does things. Yeah, but I think he’s a captain from the example. He plays in possession, he’s brilliant. The thing we have to do is try to find the balance with the rest of the players. Yeah, around him. And to take the best of him and to take the best of all the team. It’s our job.”

Deeney: “Do you think he’s a six, an eight or a ten? Because he likes to play as a six, no?”

Javi: “I think he has to play as a six. Always close to the ball. And as I told you, we need players around him to play, to give us the consistency we need. Defending and attacking in a good balance.

“We can play with two in the middle, with one of them more offensive and one of them more defensive, but we need one player behind him that gives us the stability, the consistency we need.”

Deeney: “Yeah, someone to complement him. What’s the difference between the man we see there and the man we see now?”

Javi: “I don’t know. I think I feel I’m the same, you know? But with more years, with more experience, I don’t know. I’m enjoying my job and that’s the reason why I am here. Try to help, to manage the different squads, to enjoy every day.”

Deeney: “For most people, why would you come back? Because life is good at home. You have the kids. They can’t be with you. That’s part of the moment. So the big question is why? Why come back?”

Javi: “Yeah. Sometimes I make me that question for two reasons, I think. Because I love football. You love… the play, football. And the other one is, in this case, to come to Watford is like come home. It’s something I know. It’s easier for me.

“And then these two reasons are, for me, the key to take that decision. Maybe I didn’t take in another moment when I had different offers to go to other countries, to other teams.

“But in this moment, for these two reasons, I took that decision.”

Deeney: “Well, I have two questions. One is, it’s a tough start. You have Sheffield United away. Their manager’s gone back home. You have… West Brom. West Brom on the Wednesday. Short week to turn around. Coventry, top of the league, scoring lots of goals. Also… Middlesbrough. So for these first… And then Ipswich, you know, just came for the Premier League.

“How do you feel now, looking at those games? What are you trying to take from those games for the belief to go into Christmas?”

Javi: “Now, this week is a special week because we don’t have all the players. But we are working, we are trying to improve things. It’s important, the beginning.

“But from next week, we have to prepare the team for the first game and for these difficult games in a row.

“For me, I see these games as a very good chance for us, a good opportunity to reduce distance with them. I’m optimistic and I trust in our work, in the squad.

“And I think it’s a good test for us, to know if we are able to compete with these old teams or we cannot do it.”

Deeney: “So then, let’s think forward. Wednesday night, West Bromwich Albion, at home. You hear that song, the famous Z Cars, as you walk out.”

Javi: “I don’t know the song, because they have to change that song. Because I’m not 47, he’s 47. His foot was here. But please don’t take my hobby away.”

Deeney: “So there’s a challenge to everyone, Watford fans. We need a new song.”

Javi: “Yeah.”

Deeney: “How will it feel to you, if you could just put yourself in that moment? You’ve walked out, the song’s played and the whistle blows. How will it feel now for you to be in that moment?”

Javi: “In that moment, I’m sure I will be focused on the game and knowing it’s an important game. And try to put 100% from us, from the players, to get the good results we need. But I’d like to be clear in these moments.

“The results have to be the consequence of other things. We cannot be thinking only in the final result. The results arrive.

“We have to be focused on the game, trying to be focused on helping the players, trying to give them the information they need, the skills they need to dominate the game.

“And after that, we’ll see where we are. But… It’s every day, no? Every single day, every process, every day. Day by day, as you know. Step by step.”