Watford notice ‘negative trend’ as they sack Xisco Munoz
Watford have announced the departure of head coach Xisco Munoz only seven matches into the Premier League season.
The Spaniard leaves with the club 14th in the Premier League table having collected seven points from their opening seven games.
A statement read: “The board feels recent performances strongly indicate a negative trend at a time when team cohesion should be visibly improving.”
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Munoz took charge at Vicarage Road last December and successfully guided the club back to the top flight with a second-placed finish in the Championship last season.
The statement added: “The Hornets will always be grateful to Xisco for the part he played in securing last season’s promotion and wish him well for his future career in football.
“No further club comment will be available until the imminent announcement of a new head coach.”
ℹ Watford FC confirms Xisco Muñoz has left his post as the club’s Head Coach.
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) October 3, 2021
Speaking after their narrow 1-0 loss to Leeds United on Saturday, Munoz admitted it was a disappointing display from his side, but preferred to focus on Leeds’ strengths rather than his own players’ short-comings.
“We know exactly the intensity of them,” the Spaniard said. “It was with more intensity than us.
“They won all the duels, they shoot more times than us and they wanted to win the game more than us.
“We knew before the game with the numbers. We know Leeds are number one with intensity and it’s true.”
Watford’s two league wins this season came against Aston Villa and Norwich and they face Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United in four of their next five matches.
Munoz added: “It’s important to continue to work very hard because all points are important in the Premier League.
“But we need to improve set-pieces because we concede a lot of goals from these situations.”
