Gracia: The more you shout, the less players listen
Gracia took over at Watford in January 2018
Written by Simon Austin — March 3, 2019
WATFORD manager Javi Gracia says he only shouts at his players if they are winning.
The Spaniard took over at Vicarage Road in January and has led the Hornets to eighth in the Premier League this season.
“Shouting is a resource for people who have no other way,” he told the Sunday Times. “In Spanish, we say it is better to put red one time than 20 times orange.
“To say no, no, no, like this, like this. Boom. One time. Red. Be direct, be clear and then they know. But I try to be calm. The more you shout, the less players listen. At half-time, they are nervous with playing and if someone shouts it’s blah blah blah. No good.
“The time I shout is in games we are winning. Maybe in that moment we’re relaxing and need to wake up. But when we’re losing my job is to explain, to give them solutions.”
He has also changed the players' diet since arriving at the start of last year. “No bread, no butter — I know in England you like butter,” he explained. Gracia said he found Watford a “special, familial club” and his small squad one he “can trust”.
Watford have tracked Gracia since he was Malaga manager and masterminded a 1-0 win over a full-strength Barcelona in February 2015. After that, the Hornets ended up observing Malaga’s training and filming their sessions.
