New Watford manager Javi Gracia has admitted he’s aiming to get them promoted automatically. If not, he wants the play-offs at least.
Marca have an interview with the Spanish boss today in which he reveals his lofty aims after returning to Watford this month.
Gracia was named as the new Watford manager last week, replacing Paulo Pezzolano in the dugout. It’s his second spell in charge for the club after previously managing them from January 2018 to September 2019.
That spell was one of the most successful in their recent history. Gracia took them to an FA Cup final and 11th placed finish in the Premier League in 2018/19. That was their highest finish since 1986/87.
They now find themselves 11th in the Championship, but Gracia has no intentions of remaining there for long.
“Our goal is to try to be as high as possible. If we can go straight up, even better; if not, we’ll fight for the playoffs,” he said.
Most will have been surprised to see the 55-year-old return to Vicarage Road given the manner in which his first spell was ended.
Like most managers during the Pozzo reign he was dumped unceremoniously, with Watford bottom of the Premier League with just a point to their name. Gracia, though, has only good memories of that time.
“I really enjoyed those years. The club is very family-oriented, and I have great memories. When the opportunity to return arose, I accepted the offer,” he added.
And it seems it’s emotions that have encouraged him to return, having been out of work since leaving Leeds in May 2023.
“I’ve had time to analyse football and improve as a coach. This project affected me emotionally, which is why I accepted,” the Watford manager concluded.
