Valencia are on the brink of sacking manager Javi Gracia, according to La Sexta. The club only sit above the drop zone on goal difference, albeit they have played two more matches than 18th-placed Elche. The former Watford manager joined in the summer, but he was unable to get support from the board due to Valencia’s financial struggles.
Javi Gracia to be Replaced in Coming Days
Javi Gracia’s Stint at Valencia
Gracia arrived at the club after nearly a year without football. The manager, who started making a name for himself with Malaga from 2014 to 2016, inherited a tough financial climate. To ease pressures, Valencia offloaded stars such as Dani Parejo, Francis Coquelin, Geoffery Kondogbia, Ferran Torres, and Rodrigo. Their estimated transfer profit is in the £65 million range.
When the manager asked for reinforcements, none came. Considering three of their best midfielders left, Gracia asked the board to make a move for Etienne Capoue. The Frenchman, who flourished under Gracia at FA Cup finalists-Watford in the Hornets’ second-highest finish in club history, even handed in a request to leave Vicarage Road. But, despite only costing £2-3 million, the hierarchy did not give Gracia the funds. Capoue has since gone to Villareal, whereas right-back-by-trade Daniel Wass is now required to play in Gracia’s midfield.
With relegation a serious threat, Gracia’s departure continues to grow imminent. He did not receive support in the summer transfer window. The January transfer window is not going to be any different. The hierarchy knows the only way to spark nearly-costless change is by changing managers, as unjust as that might seem.
What Does the Future Hold for Javi Gracia?
The 50-year-old, who spent a couple of seasons with Rubin Kazan in Russia before his time with Watford, will have some thinking to do before signing with another club.
With Watford, he naturally got himself into a very unstable job. The trigger happy Pozzo family showed him no mercy, as he got the axe right at the start of the 2019/20 campaign. The previous season saw Gracia putting Watford at heights they had only ever surpassed once before. Four matches was all it took for the hierarchy at Watford to terminate his contract.
With Valencia, the financial troubles he had to tackle were unprecedented. The mass exodus of players was hard enough to deal with, though the absence of a say in the reinforcements epitomizes his time with Los Che.
A club that is less-contentious, less-dramatic, more focused on a long-term rebuild will be on Gracia’s wish-list.
Javi Gracia’s Successor Lined Up
The report from La Sexta claims the Valencia hierarchy already picked the experienced Michel Gonzalez to be their next manager. With Valencia’s safety hanging in the balance, the transition of power is to occur shortly.
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