'Assistant with Rafa Benitez' - New Leeds United boss Javi Gracia's pre-Southampton press conference every word on backroom staff, fans, Whites remit, team news and visa
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Just one point separates second-bottom Leeds and bottom-of-the-table Southampton ahead of Saturday’s 3pm showdown at Elland Road. The Whites failed to muster a single shot on target in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Everton and the Elland Road club then announced on Tuesday that former Watford boss Gracia had agreed terms to become United’s new head coach, subject to obtaining a work permit.
Leeds and Gracia were still awaiting the necessary work permissions which led to question marks about who would be in the dugout for Saturday’s relegation-battle six pointer against the Saints. Under-21s boss Michael Skubala has overseen United’s last three games following the sacking of Jesse Marsch. But Leeds announced at 12.30pm on Friday that Gracia’s visa had been confirmed and just 15 minutes later the Spaniard was in the hotseat for the club’s pre-Southampton press conference. Here is every word that was said by United’s 52-year-old new head coach.
Leeds United boss Javi Gracia’s pre-Southampton press conference every word
Key Events
- 12.45pm press conference at Thorp Arch
- Javi Gracia appointed new head coach on Tuesday
- Gracia now granted visa
How will you play?
“Try to play well! And after we can speak about this and what is to play well. But I think we have to play in the way that the players feel comfortable, in a way that the players feel secure and in a way that our supporters enjoy with the team, all these things. We have to find a balance and after we decide if we play with 4-4-2, with 4-3-3, with 5-3-2, with whatever you want. But the most important in my opinion is all these things than these numbers.”
“There are some players injured. You know better than me because I am here but I have a lot of information now, there are some players injured for a long time and to be honest in this moment I prefer not to speak about this, sorry but I prefer not to say anything.”
On the Prem and Southampton
“I watched all the games of Southampton and not all but most part of the games of the Premier League because it is my job and because I have three kids who love the Premier League and then I have to do it!”
Taking over at this stage, how do you prioritise changes in terms of tactics?
“I think you have to first analyse the team, try to understand why different things are happening and after try to find the balance you are looking for. In this case, in my opinion, the team is conceding goals - the third if I am right - and you have to improve that and to improve that is not you are going to be more defensive but you have to find more options to win to get better results. There are different things to improve. I know we don’t have much time but we need time to work on it and to give the players solutions and the way the players feel more comfortable on the pitch.”
Could you take over any team or did you see something here that you thought would suit your style?
“I can’t tell you something concrete. I love different teams playing different ways. In my opinion there is no bad game. The difference is the eyes are looking for the game. I am open to find the way my players characteristics play better or feel comfortable and we take the best of them. That’s my job and I try to find it that way.”
Where does the confidence come from to give you belief that you can keep Leeds up?
“The players because before coming I didn’t know more things about Leeds. What I know is what I see on the TV or what I see in the games and when I see them and the club called me then I look at what I was seeing in the team in the games, the way they were playing and knowing the players have many things to improve but I like the way the players were playing and I can see the ambition, the passion, all the things you can see on the TV.”
Is it gradual change and not changing too much too soon?
“In the time I have been here I cannot change many things. I can say whatever you want but I don’t have time to change many things. I have to be clever to know we have to change because we need to change things but at the same time I have to know the players don’t have time to know many informations or many different things. That balance can give us the best way to compete tomorrow and to try and get the result we are looking for.”
How much pressure is there on the players and how much of this job is psychological?
“I think the psychological part is important but I think they are well, I think they know they are doing their best they are showing their commitment with the club and then I think they are the confident that we will improve in the future and I think they are confident because they are doing their best. That’s the best thing I can say about my players, they are confident and they trust that at the end of the season we achieve our objective.”
Do you still have to prove yourself after the ending at Watford?
“When I finished my job in Watford I didn’t know if I had another experience in the Premier League. I had the chance to be in Spain in Valencia, I had a chance to go to Qatar, working as well, differeent experiences of life and working as well. But when this experience appeared I didn’t have any doubts. It was something I was waiting for because all thsese years I had other chances to train but I was waiting for someting in the Premier and it was really exciting for me.”
How would you describe your management style - it was said you were a disciplinarian at Watford - fining players of they were late? Is that something you will continue?
“That’s not true! I try only to do right things and when I have to be one way I do it. In that case, I felt the best thing I can do was to speak with the players, explain what I was seeing and try to convince them how important it was to do something in this case. You have to always try to convince what you think you have to improve and that’s all. In that thing you are speaking about rules and all this and I spoke with my players and everybody at the end accepted what we thought was the best for the team.”