Javi Gracia has described racism in football as ‘incomprehensible’ following an incident involving England full-back Danny Rose during the international break.

The defender was subjected to racist chanting from Montenegro fans during a Euro 2020 qualification match, leading to an outpouring of voices calling for tough sanctions from the Union of European Football Associations, Uefa.

Gracia added his voice to those supporting the Tottenham Hotspur defender and said he wishes for it not to happen again.

“I think its incomprehensible that nowadays these things happen,” he said. “It shows a very big lack of respect from them.

“What I can say or what I can do is to support these players and to wish it doesn’t happen again.”

When asked if he would support players walking off the pitch following racist abuse, Gracia said it would depend on the situation, but that he is proud of his club’s inclusive atmosphere.

He said: “I have never lived that situation, or that experience.

“I think it would depend on the moment, it would depend on the situation.

“Watford is a team and a club where we live together, people from different countries and different cultures and we don’t have any problems about racism here.”

Gracia has often spoken of Watford’s positive atmosphere and he again spoke about the good feeling that is currently being shared throughout the club, but insisted it would not be there without his players’ talents.

He said: “The good results help you to keep all the good things you have in that moment but if you don’t have a good base of work or tactically, the atmosphere doesn’t win games alone.

“You need to do a lot of things well, after that atmosphere is a consequence of other important things.

“I don’t learn more when I lose, I prefer to win because it helps me to keep the good feelings with my players, to achieve a good atmosphere.

“After that I’m very demanding with myself. I don’t need good or bad results to try to improve the things I can improve.

“I don’t need anybody to remind me you have to do better this thing or the other thing, I know better than anyone what I have to do or what I have to improve.”

One of the players Gracia has a strong relationship with is midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has again spoken of his desire to play in the Champions League.

However, the head coach believes that he and Doucoure work well together and that he is growing and learning with his squad.

He said: “You ask me about Doucoure a lot of times, all the journalists in different moments ask about him.

“When he said he wanted to grow, I said I would like him to grow with me in this team. I think we can do it together.

“With all the players, we are able to grow step by step.

“We have the players to improve day by day, we have a good mentality, a good attitude, not only Doucoure, all the squad, we can grow together.”

Part of the harmonious atmosphere among the Watford squad could be attributed to Gracia’s relaxed attitude to the way the players use their free time.

Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhutl has said he blocks wifi connections at club hotels to prevent his players from becoming addicted to computer games.

The Austrian said that the games were “not a small problem,” labelled them “the same as alcoholism or getting addicted to drugs” and said “we have to protect the players.”

However, Gracia has a much more relaxed attitude to his players playing computer games and said: “The players have time to do whatever they want and I think it’s good for them to change and do different things.

“In this case when they come to the training ground, they have not only computer games, they have pool, table tennis, different things to do to enjoy together.

“They can spend their time doing whatever they want because the time we’re together working, they’re very demanding.”