Javi Gracia said that Watford have achieved their objective after coming through the friendly with Sampdoria this afternoon.

The game ended 1-1 after a dull affair, but the manager insists that the game was about nothing more than building up the fitness of his players.

We spoke to Gracia about a range of subjects, and this is everything he had to say.

How testing was the game with Sampdoria?

"All of pre-season has been good for us. Our target at this moment is not the results but to try to accumulate minutes of play without injuries and look for our style of play and in this moment I think that playing against Sampdoria has been a very good test for us.

They're a club with a high level and it was very demanding for us at this moment because they had a very well-organised team defensively. I'm happy with the behaviour of the team today and we're looking forward to the next game against Brighton.

Are you ready for the Premier League opener?

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"I'm sure. All of the players have done outstanding work this pre-season and this week we'll recover some players who have been some days out of the team and I think it will be a good moment to start for us."

Are you expecting any new arrivals before the transfer deadline?

"In this moment I can't tell you anything but I'm happy with the players we have. You never know what will happen in the last week but I've already spoken to the club about what I feel we need in this moment to be stronger, and the club decides if they can do something or not. But with the players we have in this moment we are ready to play and to be demanding and try to improve our last season."

What do you think you need?

"I've spoken with them. I'd prefer to keep this conversation between the club and me because I want to respect all of the players that we have in this moment and I'd prefer not to speak about players who will maybe stay with us on the future, I'd prefer to speak about the players we already have and the way to improve his performance and do better next time."

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Will Abdoulaye Doucoure, Gerard Deulofeu and Nathaniel Chalobah be fit for next week?

"I don't know. For Doucoure I hope so. Gerard maybe as well and Chalobah is training with the team this week and we'll see his evolution in these days. I'm confident maybe not for the first game or the second but he'll be ready quickly.

How close was today's team to your best starting XI?

"My answer is always the same. As you can see there will be many of the players who played today in the next game against Brighton but I won't tell you if it's the same eleven because I don't think so. There will be changes and we have to decide this week because there are some players coming back this week with the team and we'll decide what is best for the next game. Today we have played against Sampdoria with a style of play and a diamond in the middle and we need to change something to be better organised. Against Brighton will be different. It's another team, it's another shape and another style ofplay and we'll see what's best for the next game."

Is it a concern that they'll go into the season without having played any minutes?

"I think in this pre-season we've played many games and have achieved the objective of playing games and training as well - enough games with enough sessions and today I can say before playing Brighton that we have done a good pre-season. All of the players have played 90 minutes and it was the objective today and yesterday when we played a game at the training ground to accumulate minutes and to play 90 minutes before Brighton. Today I prefer to play 90 minutes than to get a better result or something like this. This was the objective, this was clear.

How big a statement is it to sign Doucoure on a five-year deal?

"I'm very happy because I think it's good for the player, good for the club and good for me as well. I'm very happy."

What have you made of the speculation surrounding Trpy Deeney's future?

"I don't know anything about Troy Deeney.

"I only know he scores another important goal again for us and he shows all of the time his character and his commitment with the club, and he's the number nine for us."

Would you like him to stay at Watford?

"Yeah, for sure."

How pleased are you with the fitness of the squad this summer?

"I think we have spent a lot of time together and the time from last season and this month has helped us to form a group of players and build up a team to be able to create a style and a clear way of playing.

"I think today in the second half by tweaking something tactically we have improved and dominated the second half because all of the team have understood what's best for the team. We have had a very good behaviour and these situation you only get if you believe as a team. This period has been good to achieve this objective.

And what about the improvement in Troy Deeney's fitness?

"I think all of the players are important, and for sure, Troy is one of them. There were many players last season who were injured and we tried to start with all of the players in the best condition and we'll see during the season.

"In this moment we tried to recover all of the players who have had problems and we'll stronger and in the best condition."

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