Watford FC step up Premier League preparations in Austria

Tuesday, 17 July 2018 14:39

By Rosie Dowsing

Javi Gracia and the Hornets headed to Austria on Sunday 15th July for pre-season training ahead of the Premier League.

The Golden Boys are spending one week of training at a camp in the Alpine region. While there, they will play friendlies against FC Köln (Tuesday 17th July) and Fortuna Dusseldorf (Saturday 21st July). These opening pre-season friendlies are 'behind closed doors' fixtures, as Watford advises supporters that they will not be facilitating entry to the games.

Javi Gracia and the squad departed from Luton on 15th July and will be returning on the 22nd. They are spending the week stepping up their preparations and build-up for the coming Premier League.

On going to Austria, Gracia said: “staying in Austria will be very good for us. We can spend more time together and in this period we can feel something different.

“We can work hard in Watford as well, but in this situation you can create some situations different to what we have here in Watford. We play two games as well.

“I think this is the first step, and it is an important step, but we know it is only one step and we need to do a lot more.”

When discussing The Golden Boys' pre-season, the Head Coach added: "now is our time"

“It is the time to build up the team with good values, knowing what is the most important and trying to show them why some things will be important in the future.”

Watford FC have been updating fans with day-by-day galleries and videos of the first team in Austria. Day One involved the first training session, after settling in and watching the World Cup final. It was a light evening session, following a long day of travelling, with short fitness and ball control exercises.

Day Two was the first full day of training for the Hornets, involving both team and solo fitness exercises and ball control tests through an obstacle course.

Their first pre-season friendly will be taking place tonight (17th July, 5.30pm UK time), at the Müngersdorfer Stadium. Stay up to date at watfordfc.com.

(Photo credits: watfordfc.com)

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