Watford players could soon see a change in their time management after manager Javi Gracia introduced a new rule at the club which will see players fined £100 for every minute they are late for training.
Gracia, has led Watford to four wins in their first four Premier League games, and determines how much the players are fined internally for any misdemeanours.
“The players do the rules and the fines but this year the gaffer took charge of the fines,” captain Troy Deeney confirmed.
“Because some of the fines were very steep and some were quick ones that some people did not think were that bad. He made it so all the fines are very steep this year and no one is messing about.
“The worst one is £100 a minute for being late. That could be the M25 and you are sitting there for 35 minutes and it is clocking up very quickly!”
Gracia has earned the respect of the Watford dressing room and his methods have improved fitness and discipline.
“He made us really tight and hard to break down. He got to the summer and went, ‘Right, this is what I need to make this team better’. He has changed the nutrition around the training ground, the gym stuff and the way we trained, like this week we had a double session.
“The running stats are immense for the teams. He keeps everybody on their toes but at the same time he is a nice guy. We work hard.”
Watford are top three on the table with Chelsea and Liverpool at the a performance that has left players with hope for the season
“The biggest thing for us was the Spurs game, it really gave us belief this could really be something good,” he said. “Going a goal down we had to show a lot of resilience and the fitness levels were perfect. That is what the manager has wanted us to buy into.”
Watford are to Manchester United at Vicarage Road on Saturday 15th . Deeney said: “It is a free hit. Everybody has written us off. If we win, the headlines are going to be about Jose and why that United team are not as good compared to their great teams.”