Critics have to be accepted inside Leeds United’s dressing room for the unacceptable traits they have demonstrated recently, but Javi Gracia has faith these players will turn it around. The head coach admits he can relate to where the supporters are coming from when they question the desire of his players, but he can only stress the hurt he sees on their faces in training every day.
While a 10-1 aggregate deficit across the last three halves of football is ringing alarm bells, Gracia has called for perspective on what the first six-and-a-half matches under him brought. That proof of this group of players doing that under his leadership reassures Gracia they can get back to that place.
Gracia had been asked how he has gone about getting a reaction from his players after the recent thrashings. In March 2019, he told The Sunday Times: “In Spanish, we say it is better to put red one time than 20 times orange.
“To say no, no, no, like this, like this. Boom. One time. Red. Be direct, be clear and then they know, but I try to be calm. The more you shout, the less players listen.
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“At half-time, they are nervous with playing and if someone shouts it’s blah blah blah. No good. The time I shout is in games we are winning.
“Maybe in that moment we’re relaxing and need to wake up, but when we’re losing, my job is to explain, to give them solutions. Shouting is a resource for people who have no other way.”
If he has not shouted or expressed anger this week, how has he looked to bring about that change? Yesterday, he said: "All of us, we have different reactions in different moments.
“I don't keep all the time the same attitude. What is important is to convince the players. To help them to understand why the things are happening and try to find the solution, try to solve the problems and it's something we have to do together.
“All of us have different responsibilities and I have to accept my responsibility. I have to work on all of these problems we have, but, at the same time, we have to assess the situation with perspective.
“We've competed well, we've got good results. It's true we have to accept now the critics because there were some moments in the last games that were something unacceptable and I understand that.
“I understand the point of view of, as you say, some supporters saying, in some moments, you can feel the lack of desire. I can understand that feeling 100 per cent, but I spend time with my players and I know how they are suffering this moment and how they work to improve the situation.
“They are able to change and they are able to do it because they did it staying with me. I believe in these players and I'm sure, all together, we come back to compete the way we did it."
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