MX23RW : Wednesday, December 5 10:28:06

Hornets need to rediscover their sting, says Gracia

Hornets need to rediscover their sting, says Gracia
© Reuters
Watford have managed just one goal in their past three games.

Watford manager Javi Gracia has challenged his players to rediscover their cutting edge when they head to Leicester.

The Hornets went down 3-0 at home to Liverpool last weekend, and have managed just one goal in their past three games.

Gracia, who earlier this week signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal, remains confident his players are doing everything right in the build-up, and now just need to start making the most of their opportunities.

"I am happy with all the players when we speak about defensive work, but we need to improve and take the chances we have," Gracia said.

"We are creating chances but we are not scoring the goals we deserve."

The Watford boss continued: "The best way to have a good chance of getting a good result is try to keep the good things we are doing.

"It's true in the last games we didn't win, but we were closer than the results (suggest). We have confidence we can do it.

"We are able to win if we improve some things."

Leicester secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night after beating Southampton on penalties.

The Foxes sit just below Watford in the Premier League table following successive draws.

Gracia knows whatever selection Leicester manager Claude Puel decides upon for Saturday's match, his players must be ready for a tough challenge at the King Power Stadium.

"They have good players. You see sometimes they play with (Shinji) Okazaki, sometimes with (Jamie) Vardy, other times with a second striker in (Kelechi) Iheanacho and also (James) Maddison," Gracia said at a press conference reported by the club.

"They have many different options and are well organised. I like the way they are playing this season.

"It will be a very demanding game for us, but we are looking forward to it and we will try to get a good result."

Gracia arrived at Vicarage Road last January to replace Marco Silva, and comfortably secured the Hornets another season in the top flight once again.

The Spaniard intends to be in it for the long haul.

"When you have stability, it is good for the players, the club, and for me as well. It's good news for all of us," he said.

"In this moment, the players can feel well because maybe they prefer this stability, but I said many times I don't need a new contract to do my best or my work 100 per cent."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1513204573841
2Liverpool1411302752236
3Chelsea1494130111931
4Arsenal1493232181430
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs14100425151030
6Bournemouth157262522323
7Everton146442016422
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd146442223-122
9Leicester CityLeicester146352017321
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156361921-221
11Watford156271821-320
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372023-318
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves144461317-416
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle143381119-812
15Crystal Palace153391120-912
16Cardiff CityCardiff1532101430-1611
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield152491026-1610
18Southampton141671226-149
19Burnley142391329-169
20Fulham1422101435-218

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