Watford head coach Javi Gracia says he has never spied on another team and that he never will do in the future.

The footballing world has been deep in discussion about the issue of spying this week, following Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa’s admission that he has always had people observe his opponents’ training sessions.

However, Gracia says this is something he has never felt the need to do and instead prefers to focus on things on his own training ground.

He said: “I have never done it. I think I will never do it, I have never felt the necessity to do it.

“I prefer to be focused on my training ground, on my players and this way I think I can do my job better.”

While Gracia has never sent anyone to another team’s training ground, the Spaniard is always careful about who comes into his, saying his training ground is like his home.

He said: “I try to control the people who are coming to my training ground. It is your home. You don’t invite just anybody, you have to feel comfortable.

“When I’m working in my training ground, I like to feel calm and with the control of all the things.”

Watford’s training ground is situated next door to Premier League rivals Arsenal’s training facility and Gracia joked that he is unsure if his neighbour Unai Emery is not observing The Hornets.

He said: “I have a good relationship with Unai and we respect each other.

“There are a lot of cameras in between our training grounds and I don’t know where they are pointing. But I will never do it and I’ve never done it.”