Javi Gracia looks set to give the majority of the Watford side which lost 3-0 against Brighton last weekend the chance to make amends at Everton on Saturday.
The Hornets’ new campaign got off to a woeful start on home soil against the Seagulls, but Gracia is refusing to press the panic button.
Indeed, the Spaniard is looking for his side to learn their lesson from last week and be more like their usual selves at Goodison Park. “In all of the games we try to learn, win or lose,” he said.
“In this case we had a bad result, it was hard for us, because we were looking forward to the first game of the season and we wanted to start well, it wasn’t possible.
“We will try and learn from it. We have many things to improve, we will try to do it better. “It was only the first game and we have another chance on Saturday.
I think we can play better because we have done it before and I am sure we will do it.”
Despite having Danny Welbeck, Quina, Nathaniel Chalobah and Adam Masina available on Merseyside, Gracia is not going to make wholesale changes.
Gerard Deulofeu should provide a boost to Watford as he is fit to face his former club having been substituted at half-time against Brighton with a stomach illness, but record signing Ismaila Sarr is not yet deemed to be match fit.
🟡Deulofeu
🟡Welbeck
🟡Sarr
🟡PereyraJavi Gracia issues Watford fitness update ahead of Everton trip👇https://t.co/fToQzenhE7 pic.twitter.com/ZR5knmXAJW
— Everton FC News (@LivEchoEFC) August 16, 2019
Gracia added: “He needs time to be ready and after a time resting, he needs time to recover his best condition. “I expect he will be ready as quick as possible. I am sure he is going to help us this season. He has a lot of skills, good qualities to help us.”
Watford will go up against their former boss Marco Silva having never managed to secure a win in their previous 13 trips to Goodison Park, although they are unbeaten in their last three meetings against the Toffees with two home wins and an away draw.
Alex Iwobi, who joined from Arsenal in the transfer window, could make his Everton debut after missing last weekend’s opening draw at Crystal Palace, while fellow new boys Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Moise Kean will hope to start after coming off the bench against the Eagles.
Morgan Schneiderlin is suspended and Fabian Delph is sidelined with a groin problem as Everton hope to start their home campaign with a win.
Copyright © 2024 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.
COMMENTS