Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has revealed that head coach Paulo Pezzolano has “fallen out with everybody” at the club, as reports suggest Javi Gracia is being lined up for a sensational return to Vicarage Road.
The 42-year-old Uruguayan is reportedly on the brink of leaving his post, with Sky Sports claiming talks are already advanced for Gracia to make a comeback more than six years after his departure.
Deeney Offers Damning Verdict
Speaking to the Watford Observer, Deeney claimed Pezzolano has lost the dressing room and the support of those around him following a turbulent start to life in charge.
“This is probably breaking confidences a little bit, but I know he [Pezzolano] has fallen out with everybody,” Deeney said. “When you fall out with everybody, you haven’t got someone there holding the ship together. Going at players, falling out with fans — it’s never going to work.”
Watford have made an inconsistent start to the Championship season, sitting mid-table despite a run of improved results in recent weeks. However, dissatisfaction among supporters has been growing, with chants calling for Pezzolano’s dismissal heard during matches against Hull City and Portsmouth.
Deeney, who captained Watford to the 2019 FA Cup final under Gracia, expressed sympathy for the current squad.
“I actually feel sorry for the players at this moment in time,” he added. “There’s no real sense of direction. They’ve changed system four times already this season, and there’s no continuity.”
Gracia Poised for Vicarage Road Return
Gracia, who managed Watford between January 2018 and September 2019, remains highly regarded among fans after guiding the club to both their highest-ever Premier League finish and an FA Cup final appearance.
Reports suggest the Spaniard is close to agreeing terms, with accommodation already being arranged ahead of a potential return. Should it happen, it would mark another swift managerial change under owner Gino Pozzo, who has now appointed 21 permanent head coaches since taking control of the club.
Deeney, who enjoyed one of the best spells of his career under Gracia, believes the 54-year-old could steady the ship if reinstated.
“He’s a great guy and a great coach,” said Deeney. “He’s very good with man-management and understands people really well. For us, he was great and it worked — but they say ‘never go back’, don’t they? Let’s see. I hope it works.”
Writer’s View
If Pezzolano’s departure is confirmed, it would continue a pattern of rapid managerial turnover at Watford. The club’s search for stability has become a defining theme of the Pozzo era, and even short-term success has failed to prevent the cycle repeating.
Deeney’s comments paint a picture of fractured relationships and tactical confusion — issues that have undermined yet another project. Gracia’s potential return might appeal to nostalgia, but unless the wider culture at Vicarage Road changes, even a familiar face could find the challenge just as unforgiving the second time around.
