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Matthew Hobkinson

Every word Javi Gracia said on 'amazing' Leeds United win, resilience, stress, upcoming 'finals'

Congratulations. How big a victory does that feel right now?

"Yeah, I think today we got a very, very good win. Our players, in my opinion, did an amazing game and they deserve the reward, the three points because I think we showed a very good face today."

Was it always the intention to go to five at the back after Leeds went 2-0 up?

"Yeah, that was my answer. First to score then and after try to defend better. In that moment we try to defend better [against] Adama [Traore] as well on the left and try to be more compact."

"We were winning and I decided to try to be more aggressive defending and try to defend better on this side. With Junior [on] a yellow card as well. We tried to give different steps playing with 5-3-2 and after with 5-4-1 to be more compact and to try to get the points."

ALSO READ: 'Don't care' - Luke Ayling's verdict on VAR controversy as he revels in 'crazy' Leeds United win

How important is Robin Koch to this side?

‘Robin, as usual, played really well. But not only Robin, all the defensive line was very well. All the players who started and all the players after who were playing, in my opinion, worked really well and as I said before, they deserve this recognition and the points."

How much work is going to be done in the international break? What is your priority?

"We'll see because our next training session we'll have maybe 10 players, 10 players with us and the rest of the players are with different national teams. Then we try to work and prepare well for the game but for sure I think my players deserve as well some days to recover. We have many players with some different pains and they have to recover to as best as possible for the next game against Arsenal."

How difficult was it to compensate for the loss of Tyler Adams?

"Yeah, I think Weston [McKennie] and Marc [Roca] played very well in that position. They did it before in different games. It’s true, always playing with Tyler because in some games we play Weston with Tyler and in other games Tyler with Marc.

"But today both played in my opinion on a very good level. But if today we got this win it was because all the players played well, not only one or two players, all of them play very, very well."

How impressed were you with Crysencio Summerville’s performance?

"We know Crysencio and the qualities he has. He can play from the beginning like he did in other games with me. I think in two of them he played only a part of the game at the end, but in all of them he was crucial for me, keeping the ball with the qualities he has.

"And it's good for the team that all of them accept the role of knowing if they have to play 10 minutes. These 10 minutes are the most important for the team and they have to play with the attitude today that Cree [Summerville] has played.

"We can [talk] about the strategic, we can [talk] about all the players. Ras [Kristensen], we can play all of them. They are thinking only in one objective and the objective is to try to help the team and try to get the points."

Were you impressed with the resilience shown from Leeds after Wolves scored their two goals?

"If we analyse the game, of course I tell you that we have to improve many things. We today were more clinical than other games. But at the same time, defending I think we can do better. Knowing my team did a very big effort to defend well, I know but we are playing against a very good team with very good players.

"When I saw the [Wolves] bench before the game started, I could see Adama [Traore] I could see [Matheus] Cunha, [Matheus] Nunes I could see a lot of good players there. And it is truly a very good squad. They are well organised. All my respect for Julen [Lopetegui] as well because I know him very well. I know how good he is and the technical stuff as well.

"And we knew before coming how tough it would be here today again, but I think we did a good job and we got the points."

How important is this win for the battle against relegation, particularly heading into the upcoming international break?

“Now we have time to enjoy the win and at the same time we can prepare with more confidence with a good atmosphere for the next game and to be honest, the good atmosphere we have we have with good or not-so-good results.

"But it's true with a good result it helps you to work with more confidence. My players now, some of them are going with the national teams and before the game we spoke about it. We want to enjoy the next week and to enjoy this week and the next as well.

"We needed to get a good result and all of you [the squad], some of you are going to the national teams. Others will stay in the training centre trying to improve as well, but we needed this result and I want to say as well to thank all the supporters because we felt their support and it was really special for us."

Was today stressful for you?

"Somethings never change, you always try to work and to keep the calm you need to work but when there are some moments like today it is normal, you feel the stress but now I have time to recover and to enjoy the points."

What do you think of Rodrigo as a player?

"Rodrigo has always been a key player for this club and I think he will be in the future as well. Now we are trying to recover his best condition because he needed to work today, play only a part of the last game as well. 50 minutes no more, then 50 minutes and day by day I think he's going to improve and but you can see the quality in playing. Even playing 30 minutes."

Do you think you will be able to get Rodrigo fit in the next two weeks to be ready to start?

"Of course, we need it. We need to work with him, it is one of the targets we have for the next two weeks. I cannot tell you if for the next game he will be ready to complete 90 minutes but for sure he's going to improve."

How pleased were you with the calmness that your players showed towards the end of the match?

“We knew that they have quality players not only Adama [Traore] because after Pablo Sarabia as well did his job. And in that part of the game when we change Junior [Firpo], I was looking for a security because Junior had a yellow card and it was a moment when maybe he could be in risk. And we try to give fresh legs to defend better and I think Pascal [Struijk] did a good job."

How happy are you for Rasmus Kristensen?

"I am especially happy for him because as I said before, as I said this week, Ras deserved that reward because he is always working, we saw him with a smile on his face. He's always trying to help the rest of the players, the rest of the team, he is something that like a manager you are always happy with these kind of players because they are very generous and always thinking in the team, not for himself."

How impressed have you been with Jack Harrison?

“Very happy with him. Because he's a player that can play in different positions always is playing well. Last game he scored an amazing goal for us and always is ready to play on the right side, on the left side, playing with three in the middle, in different positions and always in my opinion at a high level. This is the kind of players I think we have to take care of because they are the present and the future of the club."

Did this feel more like a cup final?

“To be honest all the games are important for me and in this moment of the season you know that the points are really important and you need them. Now there are 11 games left and all the games are like a final for us and we have to play with that feeling. Then, my way of living the games always is the same."

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