MX23RW : Friday, January 24 14:55:19| >> :120:27515:27515:

Javi Gracia unsure over Heurelho Gomes future

The regular FA Cup first choice had said he was 99 percent sure of hanging up his gloves this summer.

Watford head coach Javi Gracia insists he does not know if goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes will retire after the FA Cup final.

The 38-year-old had looked set to hang up his gloves after the clash with Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.

Gomes – who said in March he was "99 percent sure" he would retire this summer – is expected to start the final having been Gracia's preferred goalkeeper throughout the competition, deputising for Premier League first-choice Ben Foster.

Ben Foster has been Watford's number one in the Premier League
Ben Foster has been Watford's number one in the Premier League (Nigel French/PA)

Although Gracia would not be drawn on who will be picked to keep out the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, and Bernardo Silva, he said that if Gomes does play it would not necessarily be his farewell appearance for the Hornets.

"First of all, I don't know if it will be the last game," he said when asked about whether Gomes would keep his place.

"I would like to speak with him and the club and see if he is able to carry on next season, we have to speak about that.

"We will see, the keeper on Saturday, I don't like to speak about it.

"I only focus on the game and try to choose the best keeper for the game, after that we will see what happens in the future."

Gracia conceded he has already selected his side for just the second FA Cup final in Watford's history – but admits there could be late changes if a player is particularly impressive in training over the next few days.

"Yes, I have decided," he said of his starting XI.

"Always you can change something but when you prepare the game, I was thinking about it many days ago, and I think about how it is better to defend, better to attack and the players who are better to do that.

"At the end, you can change because I have different options, I want them all to play the final but that is not possible."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Mark Mann-Bryans, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'd73d2d71-b35f-47df-892c-d0fee64088fa');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Watford head coach Gracia unsure if goalkeeper Gomes will retire after FA Cup final'});

ID:359358: cacheID:359358:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6159:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Pep Guardiola on the edge of his proverbial seat during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Leicester City on May 6, 2019
Read Next:
FA Cup final: Man City vs. Watford - the key talking points
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds28178353193459
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd28186440182258
3Burnley28151123692756
4Sunderland28159440221854
5Middlesbrough28128846341244
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn28126103126542
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2891453324941
8Watford28125113939041
9Bristol City2891183533238
10Queens Park RangersQPR2891183235-338
11Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds28108104045-538
12Norwich CityNorwich2899104341236
13Coventry CityCoventry2898113737035
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2898113343-1035
15Swansea CitySwansea2897123135-434
16Preston North EndPreston2871383035-534
17Millwall27710102626031
18Portsmouth2778123546-1129
19Stoke CityStoke28610122636-1028
20Cardiff CityCardiff28610123143-1228
21Derby CountyDerby2876153138-727
22Hull City2868142738-1126
23Luton TownLuton2875162947-1826
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2849152560-3521


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!