Watford manager Javi Gracia plans to hold discussions with owner Gino Pozzo immediately following the team’s 2-0 home defeat to Swansea City on Saturday.
Struggles in the Playoff Chase
The loss extends Watford’s winless streak to five matches across all competitions, with second-half goals from Marko Stamenic and Joshua Key widening the gap in the playoff race. A late red card to Nestory Irankunda further marred the afternoon for the Hornets.
Gracia, who returned for his second spell at Vicarage Road in October after Paulo Pezzolano’s departure, previously managed the club from January 2018 to September 2019.
Gracia’s Call for Action
Expressing deep frustration after the match, Gracia emphasized the need for prompt dialogue with the ownership. “I’m really disappointed and I only want to speak with the owner, to feel and to know how they feel in this moment,” the 55-year-old Spaniard stated.
“I’m really disappointed with the level of the team, the situation of the team and maybe the future of the team as well. It’s something I want to know and speak about. It’s about everything that is happening on the pitch, about what they think, about what they want and expect of the future. About everything.”
When pressed on the timing, Gracia confirmed his urgency: “Yeah, tonight if I can. I think you have to do it as soon as possible. Today, if it’s possible. If it’s not possible then in one, two or three days, I don’t know when it will be possible. As soon as possible.”
Squad Challenges and Form Issues
Ahead of the Swansea clash, Gracia had described the squad as navigating a challenging period. Post-match, he linked these difficulties to the team’s inability to recover from falling behind.
“I asked for the support of the fans and I’m grateful for the support today but I knew before the game that maybe this can happen,” Gracia added. “We have players who are injured, players are gone, players are coming. Some players are playing with discomfort. The team we have in this moment is this and that’s what I can say.”
“If you see the last results, it speaks about the team. There are some moments of the games where we compete well but we are not consistent enough to get the results that we want.”
Watford, now winless in three home games, must regroup quickly for a tough midweek visit to third-placed Hull City. The Tigers notched their fourth straight Championship victory on Saturday, thanks to Lewis Koumas’ 81st-minute debut goal in a 1-0 triumph over Blackburn Rovers.
