Watford assistant sporting director Valon Behrami says the decision to replace head coach Paulo Pezzolano with former boss Javi Gracia was "much needed".

The Hornets sacked Pezzolano on Wednesday, just 10 games into his tenure, despite having enjoyed a recent upturn in results in the Championship.

Watford had claimed seven points out of nine across their past three league matches to put them just three points outside of the top six in 11th place.

But despite the side beginning to find its feet, Behrami confirmed that "language was the barrier" for the Uruguayan.

"The results are a part of that, even if in the last week we saw a lot of improvement, that's not where we want to be as a position," Behrami told BBC Radio 3CR.

"We saw the ability of Javi Gracia and we thought it was the best solution for our future before it gets too late. We thought a lot about the decision but it was the right decision and the right moment to do that.

"We have still a lot of time but it's important to have such a manager who doesn't even need the...