Javi Gracia says there is more to come from Watford after maintaining winning start against Tottenham
The Hornets now have four wins from four
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Your support makes all the difference.After a slow start against Tottenham, Watford sprung into life in the second half as the hosts turned the game around to maintain their winning start to the Premier League.
Tottenham’s patient play was no match for Watford’s tenacious drive to keep their impressive run going as goals from Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart handed the side three more points after Abdoulaye Doucoure turned the ball into his own net early in the second half.
With wins against Brighton, Burnley and Crystal Palace behind them, Spurs presented Javi Gracia’s side their biggest test this season, but the manager believes there is much more to come despite beating their toughest opponents.
“To beat Tottenham is important because they are a very good team,” said Gracia, who felt this performance fell short of their best performance of the season. “We’ve played better.
“Everybody is happy because to get four wins in a row is not easy and we are enjoying it, the players, the supporters. It’s a big moment for us. Knowing it’s only the beginning.”
“Knowing it’s only the beginning” is a phrase that will excite Watford fans who will feel they finally have a settled team they can get behind."
Since their promotion in 2015 Watford have made their way through four managers and many, many different groups of players. However, one constant through their last eight years has been their captain: Troy Deeney.
Deeney headed in a free kick to inspire Watford’s comeback, and Gracia knew from the moment he walked through the doors at Vicarage Road in January that he was going to be a big part of this team.
“I arrived in January and from the first day he has been the same. He hasn’t changed, wants to win, works a lot and tries to be a good example as captain,” said Gracia.
“You can always see his example. He tries to help everybody and he has been very important, not only scoring a goal.”
In embracing Watford’s ambitious future, Deeney has appointed a team of people to look after his health, including a nutritionist. The 30-year-old has recently lost a stone and rediscovered his love for football, much to his manager’s delight.
“We try to take care of all the players, to look for what we think is better for them,” said Gracia. “We try to help them, organise the different plans and try to help them.”
Watford now face a challenge to continue to make themselves relevant in the context of the Premier League and avoid dropping into the mires of midtable which tends to swallow them up towards the end of the season.
The catalyst of a downturn in form is usually down to a change in manager, but in Javi Gracia you have to agree that there could be more to come.
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