Your Leeds United headlines for Friday, March 17.
Goalie visits Red Devils
Leeds understudy goalkeeper Joel Robles has admitted to visiting Old Trafford to watch Manchester United’s Europa League clash against Real Betis. The 32-year-old - signed last summer as backup to Illan Meslier - spent four years at the Seville club before joining the Whites.
“I was greeting my teammates, I was in training at Old Trafford,” he told Marca. “I talk a lot with them, I’m up to date with everything, I know what’s going on. I watch the games because here, since the weather is bad, I have to watch a lot of TV so I have seen many games that are going out here.
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“Here is another culture, another system, this thing of going to Paseo Colon and seeing the atmosphere that it is not given.”
Gracia on Adams
Javi Gracia says Tyler Adams will see a specialist after picking up a hamstring injury in training. The Whites midfielder will not link up with the United States national team and remain at Thorp Arch over the international break.
Gracia told reporters: "As you say, Tyler is injured and, in this moment, he's with a specialist and we'll see how long he's out of the team. We have other players.
"We know, all of us, that Tyler is a key player for us but we have to manage with the squad we have. We have other players ready for the next game.
"He is different to others. There is no one like Tyler because all the players are different with different features and skills they have but, in this case, we have other players ready as you can see in the last games we've played.
"For example, in the last game, we started with Tyler and Marc [Roca], the game before we started with Tyler and Weston [McKennie]. We have other players and have others waiting for chances. Maybe this is the moment for them and I'm sure all of them are ready to compete at a high level."
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Gracia’s vow
Javi Gracia has vowed to “fight until the end” as Leeds United attempt to escape relegation from the Premier League. The Spaniard has amassed four points from his opening three league games at the helm but was unable to prevent them from dropping back into the relegation zone last weekend, despite drawing 2-2 against Brighton.
Leeds are only one point adrift of safety and face another crucial clash against fellow relegation rivals Wolves at Molineux on Saturday. He said at his pre-match press conference: “There are many teams involved in relegation. As I told you many times, we are focused on the next game, giving the most importance to the points in play.
"We know it will be in a similar way until the end. We have to be ready and focused in every game - trying to give our best. I'm sure we will be fighting until the end.
"When I came here three weeks ago, I knew the objective was to remain in the Premier League. And I'm sure of that (we will stay up)."
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Poveda’s ticking off
Blackpool manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed he "had words" with Leeds united loanee Ian Poveda following a disciplinary issue after he was left out of the Seasiders' squad to face Burnley at the beginning of the month.
Loanees Poveda and Lewis Fiorini were both absent for Blackpool's 2-0 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday as the pair find themselves wrapped up in a disciplinary issue following their reaction to finding out they were not part of McCarthy's squad to take on Championship leaders Burnley 10 days ago.
“I’ve had words with them [Poveda and Fiorini], I’ve told them what I expect and both of them have been fine,” McCarthy said (via the Blackpool Gazette ). “It’s difficult because they’re loan players. When they come they expect to play.
“But we had a great result against Burnley and I’m thinking that squad deserves to be that squad to play. They’ve both been alright, they’ve both been training well. They’re talented lads and we need them all on our side as we do with everybody. To be fair they are.”
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Gnonto plea
Matt Kilgallon believes Javi Gracia must unleash Wilfried Gnonto against Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend. Supporters have questioned why the Italian international has started the previous two games on the bench.
“He’s a threat, isn’t he? You get it out to him, he’s fresh,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “He gets the ball, he’s positive. He gets the crowd up, he gets it and people stand up.
“You hear the chairs bang as people get up. He’s got something and he comes on, and he puts a shift in straight away. And he does well, doesn’t he? For a sub, you ask him to do it and he does it.
“He put them on the back foot, didn’t he, and made Brighton get a little bit deeper. I like him, I think he’s a real threat. I’d like to see him start the next game. And I think he will. I think he has to.”
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