A round-up of what the national media are reporting after Leeds United confirmed that Javi Gracia has been appointed as the Whites new head coach on a flexible contract.
'He breathes, eats and sleeps football'
Sami Mokbel wrote in the Daily Mail: "Those with Leeds connections would settle for Premier League survival, right now.
"But they can be confident in believing they have appointed a manager with a track record of doing exactly that - and one who will galvanise a playing squad severely lacking in positivity.
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"Leeds players will soon discover that Gracia’s first port of call most mornings at their Thorp Arch training complex will be the treatment room. Not because he wants a fitness update or to check on training availability - but merely just to chat.
"He wants his squad to feel comfortable in his company, that they can approach him with anything - no matter how big or small. Gracia's door is always open. He wants his players to trust him - they certainly did at Watford.
"Players were grateful for the ‘No Blame’ culture he nurtured. If something went wrong, it was never one persons fault. It was a collective mistake.
"A meticulous student of the game, Gracia will leave no stone unturned in his quest to lead Leeds away from the relegation zone. He breathes, eats and sleeps football. Away from the training ground Gracia, a father of three, is said to be the epitome of a family man - but the game is his true passion."
'Time is not on his side'
Mark Walker penned in the Independent: "Gracia must quickly figure out how to prevent Leeds from losing games they should have won, or at least have gained a point...
"The likes of Patrick Bamford, the injured Rodrigo, Luis Sinisterra, Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison and Crysencio Summerville offer an abundance of attacking talent and the Spaniard must work out how best to use them.
"The swarming, high-tempo attacking philosophy under revered former boss Marcelo Bielsa made way for a muddled version under Marsch. The American’s game-plan appeared chaotic, leaving fans and pundits confused, while his players seemed ill-at-ease with their roles.
"Gracia’s teams have been renowned for being disciplined and hard to beat rather than playing free-flowing football.
"Whatever his vision for Leeds is, he must translate it consistently on to the pitch, which Marsch was unable to do, and time is not on his side."
'Counting on Gracia's experience'
Phil Hay and Adam Leventhal wrote in the Athletic: "The squad at Leeds is not devoid of ability or potential and, in many ways, it looks stronger and more capable on paper than it has been on the pitch this season, but Gracia is taking charge of a side who are badly out of the habit of winning.
"Leeds have four league victories all season and, rather aptly, have not recorded one since Bonfire Night. Far from the comparatively luxurious six-point cushion Gracia had at the outset at Watford, Leeds are two points adrift of 17th place...
"Gracia is regarded as a calm and reserved coach, humble and courteous and not prone to outbursts. His off-the-ball ideas at Watford were fairly conventional in a modern sense: plenty of high-intensity running, good levels of pressing and a commitment to holding a relatively high line up the pitch, with a firm emphasis on work rate.
"Leeds were in no position to pretend to him that he was their standout choice to replace Marsch, but a search that started with Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola as the club’s prime target boiled down to pragmatism after Saturday’s defeat to Everton left Leeds staring into the abyss.
"They are counting on Gracia’s experience being enough to get them out of the woods and his presentation to them sealed the deal. The first test of it is on the horizon: the high-stakes challenge of putting into practice his ideas of how to edge a must-win game against Southampton."
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