According to a recent report by ESPN FC, Chelsea are considering Watford manager Javi Gracia as a candidate to succeed Maurizio Sarri if the Italian head coach leaves the club in favour of a move to Juventus later this summer.
The same source has revealed that Sarri faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge with the Pensioners lining up the Hornets manager as an ideal replacement ahead of the new season.
Gracia’s Magnificent Season With The Hornets
Gracia has enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Watford as he guided them to a strong 11th place finish in the Premier League table last season. He was also the mastermind behind his side’s great run to the FA Cup final where they eventually lost to Manchester City with a 6-0 scoreline last month.
Despite that heavy defeat, the Spanish head coach has done a remarkable job since arriving at Vicarage Road at the beginning of last year. The 49-year-old has taken charge of 61 matches for the Hornets, winning 24, drawing 11 and losing 26 of those games across all competitions. He boasts an impressive PPG (Points Per Game) average of 1.36 during his time at Hertfordshire so far.
What Makes Gracia Such A Highly Sought After Manager?
The Spanish tactician tends to line up his side to play open, attacking football. He has established an exciting brand of football at Watford, so Chelsea will do well to lure him to West London in this offseason.
Gracia can be considered among the brightest managers in Premier League football, but he has not won a single trophy in his managerial career thus far. Hence, one can question whether he has a proven track record to manage an elite club like Chelsea.
Will The Watford Manager Be A Good Option For Chelsea?
At the same time, if Sarri leaves, then the Pensioners would have to act quickly to steady the ship ahead of the new season which makes Gracia a decent candidate to take over the helm at the Bridge.
FIFA’s impending two-transfer window ban could also mean that the West London giants might find it challenging to attract the big name coaches of world football. So recruiting Gracia could be a brilliant, short-term fix for the Pensioners as they try to compete on all fronts next season.
