Watford ‘had gone flat’ as Gracia lost way

Manager’s fate sealed by failure to beat Newcastle Sanchez Flores returns for second spell at club

Watford sacked Javi Gracia as their head coach because they feared the team had gone flat and would struggle to climb up the Premier League.

The announcement on Saturday that Gracia had been dismissed was followed just 31 minutes later by another that Quique Sanchez Flores would be returning.

Sanchez Flores was dismissed by Watford or, rather, they chose to exercise a break clause in his contract, in 2016 after just one season in charge. Although Gracia’s sacking will be regarded as brutal, Watford have proved themselves decisive and successful when it comes to changing coaches. Owner Gino Pozzo spends a lot of time at the training ground and constantly monitors performance. Removing Gracia, however, was a tough decision, given how popular the Spaniard was at the club and his achievements last season in reaching the FA Cup final.

However, while the Cup run was accepted as mitigation in a drop-off in form – with Watford losing their last four league games – the team were beaten comprehensively, 6-0, at Wembley by Manchester City, which, it is argued, appears to have affected Gracia in this campaign.

Losing their first three games set off alarm bells and while there were reports that Gracia was under pressure after the home defeat by West Ham United, it was actually picking up Watford’s first point of the season, away to Newcastle United, that sealed his fate. Watford felt that a poor Newcastle side should have been defeated and, while Gracia had changed the team, he had not done enough. With Arsenal at home next Sunday followed by away trips to Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford, who are bottom, feared they were in danger of being marooned in the bottom three.

The sense at Watford was that there was no momentum under Gracia. It was said he had lost some of his drive and was struggling to get the best out of the players. He remains respected and liked, and the decision to remove him was not taken lightly. It is typical of Watford’s clear approach that they had already lined up Sanchez Flores and did not even try to pretend otherwise with the small time difference between announcements.

Gracia, however, expressed his surprise at the decision although he insisted it would not affect his relationship with Pozzo. “After the unexpected announcement about the termination of my contract after only four matches, I want to express my surprise after completing the best season in Watford’s history,” he said.

“I respect this decision and I’d like to reassure that the excellent relationship I have with Gino Pozzo and Filippo Giraldi, and this is not going to change despite my abrupt exit of the club.

“I am grateful to this club for allowing me to manage this great club in the Premier League, it has been an incredible experience with very special moments like the FA Cup final I had the privilege to enjoy.”

Sanchez Flores will be given the task of establishing Watford in the top half of the division with the club refusing to countenance the possiblity of relegation, especially having invested £31 million in a new striker, Ismaila Sarr. Like Gracia, Sanchez Flores left Watford in 2016 after his side fell away in the second half of the season. However, after stints in Spain and China, he has refocused and understands the demands at Watford.