Watford’s coach Oscar García still in hospital and ‘needs more rest’
• Coach admitted to hospital on Sunday with chest pains
Watford’s head coach, Oscar García, remains in hospital after suffering chest pains over the weekend. The 41-year-old Spaniard was admitted to hospital on Sunday evening, 24 hours after his first match with Watford, a 1-0 defeat at Charlton.
García missed Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Blackpool and it remains unclear whether he will be able to return when Watford face Bournemouth at Vicarage Road in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
A club statement read: “Oscar García is undergoing a series of tests in hospital after first being admitted on Sunday with chest pains. The results of those assessments will determine a time when it’s appropriate for Watford’s head coach to return to work.
“However he is in good spirits – buoyed, of course, by last night’s victory at Blackpool – and is in regular communication with his coaching team as the Hornets players and football staff focus their attentions on the visit of Bournemouth this Saturday.”
The assistant coaches, Ruben Martínez and Javier Pereira, took charge of the team at Bloomfield Road. Afterwards Martínez said that García “needs more rest” and added: “We’re all happy for the win, of course. This win is for Oscar.”
García, 41, took over at Vicarage Road 15 days ago, after Beppe Sannino resigned. The former Barcelona attacking-midfielder had just left his role as Maccabi Tel Aviv manager two months into his second spell with the club because of safety concerns in Israel.
Last season he led Brighton & Hove Albion to the Championship play-offs, where they were beaten by Derby County in the semi-final.
Sergio Ramos defends abused Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas
• European champions visit Deportivo on Saturday
Sergio Ramos has come out in defence of the club captain Iker Casillas after he was whistled by supporters during Real Madrid’s 5-1 victory over Basel in the Champions League.
The goalkeeper has been blamed by many at the Bernabéu for the club’s slow start to the season, in which they have been beaten twice in their opening three games in La Liga, and also had an indifferent World Cup for the holders Spain who failed to get beyond the group games in Brazil.
“I will not get into a debate, it would be stupid,” Ramos told AS.com. “Above all is the club and we focus on that. Iker can live with it, he knows that he can’t please everybody. He is not a robot and the whistles affect him.”
He added: “We are professionals and we understand that people were aggrieved because they have turned up here and felt disconnected.
“But people should also be sensitive and understand that we like to play in a comfortable and supportive environment. Today had everything but we liked that the fans were happy.”
Real, who lie 13th in the table, visit Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday and the centre-back said: “We thought about the things we have done wrong and we now expect to go on a winning streak.”