Twelve hours after victory over Fulham, Watford’s players are gathering in the canteen before their recovery session.
There is a quiet satisfaction about the place. With 46 points on the board, this is sure to be their best Premier League campaign as they turn their minds towards reaching the FA Cup final for the first time since 1984.
Etienne Capoue and Tom Cleverley dominate the pool table and attract a crowd. Winner stays on. Andre Gray arrives with something on his phone that everyone simply has to see as they organise breakfast.
The new games area at Watford's training ground has allowed Javi Gracia's squad to bond more
Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster is in good spirits at the training ground as he celebrates his 36th birthday
Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes embodies the excellent spirit that is present amongst the Watford players
Striker Troy Deeney is hard at work in the gym as he prepares for Watford's FA Cup semi-final against Wolves
Smoothies, juice and espressos are on the go and Gerard Deulofeu and Miguel Britos top up their gourds of yerba mate tea with hot water. ‘It helps us put the phones away and have a nice conversation,’ says Uruguayan Britos. ‘It creates time to talk to each other.’
It is Ben Foster’s 36th birthday and Heurelho Gomes, who bursts in to the sort of cheer reserved for the funniest friend on a night out, rushes across to give his goalkeeping colleague a hug. The spirit inside Watford is one of their strengths; a reason they defy the odds; a reason they make changes for competitions such as the FA Cup without losing momentum.
Manager Javi Gracia takes much of the credit but all agree this unity has been reinforced since the pool and ping-pong tables and dart board were delivered on the first day of pre-season, a sweetener for the gruelling double and triple sessions the coaching staff had in mind.
Cleverley and Craig Cathcart rule at pool, according to Britos, who ranks himself ‘fourth or fifth’ best, while Adrian Mariappa and Daryl Janmaat are in the final of a table-tennis tournament.
Watford boss Javi Gracia revealed that his side want to eventually break into the top six in the Premier League
Gracia has a hectic schedule and arrives at Watford's training ground early even after a game the night before
Watford boss Gracia is a popular figure, his modest and self-effacing manner masking a steely determination
6.15am: An early start, even after a midweek game.
7am: Arrives at the training ground near St Albans for breakfast with staff as they chew over ideas and discuss Tuesday’s game.
8am: Watches a re-run of the win over Fulham and a recording of semi-final opponents Wolves’ win over Manchester United.
Noon: Gathers his squad for a pep talk on the pitch. Those who played against Fulham head to the gym for recovery. The rest go through a full training session outdoors.
1.30pm: Lunch with his coaches followed by a chat with Sportsmail and an interview with a Spanish radio station.
3pm: In a meeting with his analysis staff, he discusses set-pieces against Wolves.
4pm: Prepares for next day’s training with focus on open play.
6.30pm: Leaves to pick up one of his three sons from football training before heading home.
‘The new games area has helped break down barriers,’ said Mariappa. ‘It’s natural for the Spanish lads and the French lads to sit together when they’re talking but when we’re playing games it doesn’t matter about different languages and cultures.’
Troy Deeney collects an orange and chats with the canteen staff as he peels it and explains how he can’t sleep after a night match and went home, watched the Fulham game again and was still struggling to switch off as the clock ticked by four in the morning.
Television screens are showing the goals. Will Hughes sees his volley fly in and blushes as someone throws him a compliment.
Javi Gracia is feigning infuriation as he tries one more time to explain to an English colleague the correct pronunciation of his name. It’s pronounced ‘Graaaaa-thya’, he explains, touching a finger to the tip of his tongue to emphasise the Spanish lisp. Not ‘Grass-eeeeeya’.
It doesn’t actually rhyme with sangria, he points out, with a reference to the song Watford fans have adopted in his honour, and which his three sons like to sing in his presence even though
