Breaking the ‘vicious cycle’ Leeds United find themselves in is the biggest challenge Javi Gracia feels he faces right now. It’s been a tough few weeks at Elland Road, with the relatively strong start Gracia made to life in the role crumbling away on the back of three consecutive defeats.
A total of 11 goals were conceded in losses against Crystal Palace and Liverpool and the Whites were visibly short of confidence as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday afternoon. It’s been a damaging run of form, not only as it leaves them perched precariously on the edge of the relegation zone, on point clear of danger, but it seems to have had an effect mentally, too.
With just six Premier League games remaining, it’s clear that such a slump could not have come at a worse time. Gracia, though, insists he hasn’t seen a change in mentality from his players since he arrived at the club two months ago.
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The Spaniard is more than happy with what he sees from his side on the training pitch at Thorp Arch, but his players need his backing and encouragement if they are to snap their losing streak in time.
“What I feel is my players are working very well day in, day out, every day,” Gracia said when asked whether he take decisions to protect his players. “As I said before, when I arrived nine games ago, I could feel they wanted to change the dynamic, they wanted to do everything to get the results.
“Now, that doesn't change. Of course we are coming from three bad results but the atmosphere, the spirit of the team, is the same.
“I think we have very good players, like the rest of the teams, the rest of the players, they have ups and downs and we have to manage that. Even more with young players.
“As I tell you before, if they need my support, I'll be here to support them because they need it. Not only when we won some games, important games for the club, but now they need the support when they're not in the best moment to break this vicious cycle, we need to break it and to do that we need the support. After that, I'm sure they'll be back at their best level.”
Leeds take on Leicester City this evening at Elland Road in a fixture that can only be seen as must win if they are to go on and secure their survival under the Spaniard and Gracia knows his side have what it takes to get the job done.
“They have the belief, the desire,” he added. “Sometimes, the other day I told them, when you feel something for someone, you have to do something.
“Let them know you feel something for that person, but you have to do it. Now of course, nobody will doubt your desire, your commitment. Now is the time to show it, to do it. It's the moment.
“After the last three defeats we have to do something different. Let the people know the desire you have, in the moments in the games you have to do it. In training I can feel it, then we have to demonstrate on the field in the next game.”
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