The club have confirmed that your work permit has gone through in the last few minutes, can you just talk us through this week from your perspective. Has it been a waiting game and how much of an impact will you have on the team for the game tomorrow? Will you pick the team and how much of an impact have you been able to have?
Javi Gracia: "Of course, we've been keeping an eye on the time, on the team, preparing many things. As you say, from today I have the permit and then we'll prepare, with some images, speaking about the game and I think we're well prepared.
"We're well prepared and the team, the players know perfectly well what we're going to do tomorrow. That's all - full of energy, full of commitment because we know it's a crucial game."
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Are you excited about the challenge ahead and do you see similarities between the one here and the one you had at Watford when you took over there?
JG: "Yeah. Something similar, something different. But in both clubs, I felt, and today, feel really well. From my first day, I realised when I arrived here, it was an amazing club. To be honest, I felt the same in Watford. A great family where I felt really well. It was an experience and I hope, here in Leeds, it'll be the same. With good results, good football and our supporters enjoying with the team."
Can you give us an insight into some of the conversations you've had with Leeds, is the remit to keep Leeds in the Premier League?
JG: "I think the club is - in this moment - focussed on the target. The target is clear and this helps all of us to work in one direction in one way. When I spoke with them, they were clear with, we have to achieve. We need to achieve the objective. I was, from my first day, in the same way. I was looking for one opportunity, one chance like this one and it was easy to speak with them to arrive here."
That objective is to stay up?
JG: "For sure."
Can you take us through what this week has been like for you. You've just got your visa, when did you find out you were going to be in the dugout?
JG: "When I arrived - I don't remember to be honest because the last few days I've been really busy. I've been sleeping two or three hours and preparing a lot of things but I arrived on Tuesday, I think. I had a meeting with the club on Sunday and as I tell you, it was easy. After my conversation with the board it was easy to decide. I want to be here. I want to accept the challenge. During the week, we've been working, preparing for the game and doing things as best as possible. I think we're really prepared for the game which for me is the most important."
What was the most important thing you've had to do with the players this week?
JG: "I think everybody knows, the potential of this squad, the commitment of this squad. The energy, the passion they have to play, there is no doubt. From my first day, they've shown all these things I've said. They, in this moment, need a good moment to change the dynamic. The rest of the things they're doing really well. Then for me as a coach, it's easy to stay with them, to work with them because they really want to do it. They really want to improve the situation and that's the best thing for a coach when you arrive at a club."
You have a flexible contract, what does that mean? Could you be here for one game or you decide whether you stay, or they decide whether you stay?
JG: "You know our situation, it's not easy for the coaches. You could stay one day or stay one life. You never know. To be honest, I'm focussed. When I accepted the challenge, I accepted because I wanted to be here. I wanted to prepare the game and try to help this team to achieve the objective. After the objective we'll speak. I don't want to be here because I have a contract, or I don't want the club to have a difficult situation because they have a coach they don't want in the club. It's better to be focussed on the next game. It's my objective as well to win and finish the season with the objective. I'm not worried about my future."
How will you play to stay in the Premier League?
JG: "Try to play well. After, we can speak about what is playing well. I think we have to play in the way the players feel comfortable. In a way the players feel secure and in a way the supporters can enjoy with the team. All these things, we have to find a balance. Then we can decide whether we play 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 5-3-2 or whatever you want. But, there are other things that are more important than these numbers."
Can you tell us about your backroom staff, who are they and how experienced are they?
JG: "Juan is my physical trainer. He's been with me for a long time, since my beginning. When we started as professionals in the [Villareal] second B in Spain. Mikel Antia and Zigor Aranalde are both former players, both assistants and both have experience in England before. Mikel Antia was assistant with Rafa Benitez in Newcastle, Zigor was with me in Watford and other clubs as well. In my opinion, good people. I need good people around me and they're very good professionals as well."
Finally on team news, anybody with injuries are you without anybody for tomorrow's game?
JG: "There are some players injured. You know better than me. I have a lot of information now that there are some players that are injured for a long time. In this moment I prefer not to say anything about injuries, sorry but I prefer not to say."
Can you talk a little bit more about the reaction from the players in the time that you've spent with them?
JG: "As I said before, all of them from my first day, have shown me a very good attitude. Today, in the training before, I felt all of them are really focussed on the game with a high commitment, looking forward to playing in the moment at Elland Road and to show our supporters they really want to improve the situation. That's the feeling I have now and I've had it since the first day. The players are involved and they want to improve the situation."
How closely have you followed the Premier League since you left Watford, for example, what do you know about Southampton?
JG: "I've watched all the games of Southampton - not all - but most part of their Premier League games because it's my job. I have three kids who love the Premier League. Then I have to do it?"
When you take over the team in the middle of the season, how do you prioritise changes in tactics of the team?
JG: "I think you have to first analyse the team. Try to understand why different things are happening, then after try to find the balance. In this case, the team is conceding goals, you have to improve that. To improve that it's not to say you'll be more defensive but you have to find a better balance because this way you have more options to win or get better results. There are different things to improve but I know we don't have much time. We need time to work on it and give the players the solutions and the way the players feel more comfortable on the pitch."
Could you take over any team or did you think this team could play my football?
JG: "I can't tell you something concrete. I love different teams, playing different ways, in my opinion there's no bad [way to play the] game. The difference is the eyes are looking for the game. I'm open to finding a way to make my players play better with their characteristics or feel better or comfortable. Then we take over and feel the best of them. That's my job and I'll try to find that way."
You've taken this job because you've said you're confident in keeping Leeds in the Premier League, where does that confidence come from in what you've seen so far?
JG: "The players. Because before coming, I didn't know more things about Leeds. What I know is from what I've seen on the TV or the games. When I see them, the club called me, and I loved what I saw seeing in those games. The way they play and knowing all the teams and players have many things to improve, but I like the way the players were playing, the energy, the passion, all the things you can see on the TV."
You mentioned tactics, you want the players to be comfortable, does that mean we should expect a gradual change and you're not going to change too much too soon?
JG: "In the time I've been here, I can't change many things. I can say whatever you want but I don't have material 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 times to know many different things. That balance can give us the best way to compete tomorrow and try to get the result we're looking for."
How much pressure do you think the players are feeling at this moment? How much is on them and then how much of your job is psychological?
JG: "I think the psychological part is important, but I think they're well. I think they know they are doing their best. They are showing their commitment with the club, then they are confident that we'll improve in the future. They're confident they're doing their best. It's the best thing I can say about my players. They're confident and they trust at the end of the season they'll achieve our objective."
Having left Watford, how much do you feel you still have to prove in this division? Do you feel you still have to prove yourself in the Premier League because of the way that ended?
JG: "When I finished at Watford, I didn't know if I'd have another experience in the Premier League. I had the chance in Spain with Valencia, I had the chance to go to Qatar with different experiences of life and working. When this experience appeared I didn't have any doubt. It was something I was waiting for. In all these years, I had other chances to train but I was waiting for something in the Premier League and it's something I'm excited for."
How would you describe your management style at Watford, it's said you were a bit of a disciplinarian if they were late?
JG: "That's not true. I tried only to do the right things. When I have to be one way, I do it. In that case, I thought the best thing I can do is speak with the players and tell them what I was seeing. Try to convince them how important it was to do something. In this case, about rules and after, then we can speak about play. It was the same. You have to convince them about what you think you have to improve. That's all. In what you speak about - rules - I spoke with my players and everybody at the end accepted what we thought was the best for the team."
What are your first impressions of Yorkshire?
JG: "Yesterday, I was working in the club and had a warm welcome. I was excited and very grateful. It's things like this that make the difference. When you arrive at a club and you feel this, you feel really well. The atmosphere in the club is very good and I only want to give them back my best to try in my job and give us good results."
The atmosphere at Elland Road is one of the best in the Premier League, how much of a factor was that in you taking on this challenge?
JG: "I know the atmosphere is really good. Of course I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow. I expect our supporters will be player number 12 for us. We need them. What we have to do is, from the beginning to the end, we need to give our best. What I said to my players today, is that Tomorrow we have to give extra effort because the team need it. Tomorrow is the day."
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