“Under Mr Gracia I have the consistency to play,” he said. “He is very demanding with me Correct Score: Man City 3 Watford 1 because he knows my quality. He knows I can do better.
“He puts me in the most demanding position in training to learn. He is the man to help me to get into the France team, to help me to fulfil my ambition.
“In the French team there are a lot of good players. Big players. Paul, Kante, Matuidi. It’s hard to get into the team. But with hard work one day I can do it.
“If I get a call up to the national team, or when I get recognition from other clubs, it shows I am doing things well.”
To put Doucoure’s rise into perspective, he has recovered from two cruciate ligament injuries, the last in 2013.
“There was never a time when I thought I wouldn’t come back,” he said. “I think it is a testament to my character because to come back from two cruciate ligaments in a short period is very hard.
“Now I play in the best league in the world, the most demanding league.”
A father of two, Doucoure, who signed for Watford from French club Rennes three years ago, believes family life has enabled him to enjoy his game.
He went on: “Becoming a father changes you. In a good period or a bad period you have your kids.
“You can enjoy time with them. For me it gives me stability because I am very focused on football now.”
FULLY FOCUSED Doucoure talks to Mirrorman Darren would not be tarnished if the club are found guilty of wrongdoing. The City boss (below) said: “When you are fighting, people want to underestimate what you achieve.“I’m not too much concerned or worried about what people say if we win the title, just because what happens now with UEFA.“They do not give us credit for what we have done, but believe me – I don’t care.Absolutely zero.“I know exactly what the guys are doing for the last two seasons and more.“If we have made mistakes we will be punished – it is what it is, on and off the pitch – but I’m pretty sure what we have done is incredible.“When we do it, it belongs to us and nobody is going to change that.”The UEFA probe could lead to a Champions League ban after leaked internal documents suggested income supposedly from sponsors was paid directly by the club’s Abu Dhabi owners.The Premier League’s move has been driven by City’s domestic rivals, who have contacted our game’s rulers demanding to know what action they intend to take.City are accused of making an illicit payment of £200,000 to Jadon Sancho’s agent when they signed the England winger (above) – now at Borussia Dortmund – from Watford when he was 14.The Premier League released a statement last night confirming their investigation into City. “The league has detailed financial regulations and strong rules in the areas of academy player recruitment and third-party ownership,” read the statement.“We are currently investigating these matters and will allow Manchester City every opportunity to explain the context and detail surrounding them.”City deny flouting FFP rules and their statement read: “Manchester City welcomes a formal UEFA investigation to end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails.“The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false.”