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Matthew Hobkinson

Every word Javi Gracia said on Leeds United injuries, FA Cup run, Rodrigo and rotation vs Fulham

What's the mood been like in training since Saturday?

"Good, I have enjoyed training with the team and the players after a great result for us. We are preparing as best we can for tomorrow, knowing it is another competition [away from the Premier League], but we are very, very excited."

What has the win against Southampton done for the team?

"Knowing it's only a win, a good result for us I think is really important in terms of confidence in terms of believing all the things we are doing, you know, is very good for the present and for the future as well."

ALSO READ: Pick your Leeds United starting XI to take on Fulham in FA Cup fifth-round clash

Best memories of the FA Cup with Watford?

"There are some very, very good memories unforgettable for me. What I could see in that competition, all our supporters the way all our supporters enjoyed is something I will never forget. It is something I tried to explain to our players. I have only one experience but that experience was something amazing for me. And I would like to to live it again!"

What's your approach with the team for tomorrow night?

"I think we needed to create something from our first day. I think we did it, we trained well. We prepared a well for the game. I think we had a good performance.

"Now we have another moment in another competition it's only [one] game, there is no chance to make mistakes. If you make a mistake, you pay for it. Then we have to be very focused to live this game with intensity and knowing [it] is only one chance and we have to take it.

"All the players as I said before, in my opinion are really motivated and we hope the best for that game."

Any update on injuries?

"You know, I don't like to speak much about injured players. But I try to tell you something. In this moment, we are in the same situation. Respect the injured players. The players [who] were available in the last game will be available for the next one. In this case, [Sam] Greenwood will be suspended."

What are your thoughts on the quality of the players just outside of the first-team?

"Now I have an opinion because I've been with them some training sessions and I'm very happy with all of them, with the quality they have, with the behaviour they have. Every day they try to learn something else. Very, very respectful. I think they have a great attitude to improve the qualities they already have.

"My opinion is all of them have a good present and an amazing future."

Have you managed to do another stage of your planning with the squad since the weekend?

"I always try to choose the best 11 to start the game. And sometimes to choose the best 11 is to to make some changes. Another moment maybe is to keep the same 11 you play in the last game, but for sure we need something new, fresh legs and to change something to compete [at] our best level.

"As I said in other moments, I trust in all my players and I think it's a good opportunity to to play to see in this case other games and other players."

Have you had more sleep and are you settled in?

"Yeah. You can see [it] in my face!"

What was the key message you gave the players before the Southampton game?

"When I arrived I the first thing I said the players was that I wanted to be respectful with all the work they've done before with all the staff that have been before me.

"And from that point, we needed to change something. You have to speak about the past if you want to improve if you want to change something, but always full of respect for all because I think they did a great job before I came here.

"And from that point, we try to concentrate all the information, all the things we want to change and to prepare for the next game in videos, in training sessions and to try to help the players to feel confident on the pitch and to know clearly what they have to do.

"It was good because the result - not only the result - I think the performance was good. We were compact, we were solid, we didn't concede many chances. I think we played a good game."

What's the most pleasing aspects of the players that you you've seen so far?

"From my first day, I could see the attitude of the players, the desire of the players to improve the situation and if you see, for example, the moment when we scored the goal - the reaction of all the players, please, see the game and you can feel what the players are and what the players want.

"It is the commitment they have with the situation and this is for me the most important, to work to improve and to achieve the target."

How much would you love to see a cup run?

"For me the experience I have in this cup is something unforgettable. We did it with Watford, that experience was really good for the players. I could see the supporters as well. And I would like to repeat that experience.

"We know it is not easy. There are many good teams and watching the next game, Fulham is playing a great season. Very well situated in the table in this in the Premier League. And it will be a tough game but we want to try it and playing our best football we have a chance for sure."

What do you know about Marco Silva's teams and how he'll prepare for for the match tomorrow?

"All the references about him are good. I know he's very good manager and I know the moments we've been together, it was really a pleasure to be with with him. Always."

Who will play in goal for Leeds?

"I've just arrived here and the situation, I have two, maybe three keepers in training, plus the academy. But in the same way I have to decide in other positions, I try to choose what I consider to be the best option to win the game."

How important can Marc Roca be for the team?

"Roca is and will be important in this team. Playing from the beginning, playing like the other day [off the bench vs Southampton]. That's the mentality we need until the end, it's not so important if I [the players] start playing or not.

"What is really important is what I do when I have to play and the way I can help the team. Marc did it in the last game and when he plays from the beginning, I'm sure he will too."

Can you explain the rationale for starting Brenden Aaronson over Crysencio Summerville and why you wanted to make that one change?

"I can tell you different reasons. One of them was, for example, Crysencio Somerville had a permit [for] some days [off] because he had something personal. But the reason that Brenden Aaronson played was he trained really well and he deserved to play. He played in my opinion a very good game as well."

Thoughts on the partnership between Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams?

"My opinion about the game is that we had the control, not only because we had these two players in the middle that they did a good game. But because we were balanced. We defended well. We were more compact in long balls. We were strong defending one player with two midfielders.

"Second balls we were ready to do that, to do it. And then we were compact, but we were solid because all of them were mentalized (sic) to internalise to defend better and I think is something we improve.

All the games are different, all the rivals are different, but we started playing this game and we did it well. These two midfielders gave us the balance we need in the middle, defending and creating and attacking as well."

Was the FA Cup a priority for you at the start of the 2018/19 season at Watford?

"Yes. When I start the season I always say the same. I want to win the title, to win the Premier League title, all the cups I want to win everything and when I lose one game, I feel really, really bad.

"I think this is the way we have to play all the competitions - try to be ambitious and try to win all the games and after we see the competition will put us in our place but not before the competition. Now, or Watford in that case was the same. We want to win the trophy and of course to win the title.

"Game my game you have to modify your target and you have to realise your target is maybe to remain in the Premier League, then we have to be focused on that. But I prefer to focus on the next game as the best way, in my opinion, to do your best."

How is Rodrigo's recovery going?

"I can see him working at the gym. Improving. But I can't tell you because in this case, I don't know when he is going to be ready."

Where does the FA Cup final with Watford sit in your list of achievements?

"My achievements as a manager, it doesn't depend only on the final result. In this case we achieved to play the final and it was something amazing for us. But in other moments, maybe playing with other teams and promoting from the second division to the first division in Spain was something massive

"The manager has in my opinion has to enjoy not only if you are the winner or if you won a title. There is something else to be happy yourself."

Some managers coming into the position that you're coming to might see the FA Cup as a distraction. I don't think you see it that way is that correct?

"I love this competition. My experience was something real good and of course I don't like to play three games in eight days. It's not good. But I have to try to organise, try to motivate myself, motivate the players to know if we play a good game and if we are able to win, it will be something really good for us. That is the mentality we have."

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