Watford head coach Javi Gracia has insisted that Troy Deeney is a good person, after the Watford skipper was charged by the FA for his comments about referee David Coote.

The striker criticised the referee following the Hornets' 3-3 draw with Bournemouth earlier this month, saying he "bottled it" when it came to making some big decisions.

As a result, Deeney was fined £20,000 by the FA.

Before he knew about the fine, Gracia defended his striker and said he would prefer if his players were given the chance to prepare for interviews.

He said: "I prefer to take time to breathe a couple of times and after try to answer different questions, in any case like I try to do, we have to control our words and try to empathise with referees and the other team.

"I think it would be better if you had more time to answer different questions."

Gracia said he has not spoken to Deeney specifically about this incident and only would if his captain consistently got into similar situations.

He said: "If I see one of my players making mistakes very often, I will try to speak with him, but I think all my players show his character and personality.

"Troy is Troy, I accept the way he is. He's a very good person and sometimes his words maybe sound different, but I know he's a very good person.

"He helps the rest of the team and everybody can make a mistake

"Like all the players, sometimes he's right, sometimes hes wrong. That’s all.

"He makes a lot of things well and I prefer to value these things, not speak about the mistakes."