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George Bennett

Mark Schwarzer offers insight into fighting relegation amid Leeds United leadership advice

Mark Schwarzer says leadership within the squad is going to be crucial if Leeds United are to awaken from their recent slump in the Premier League.

Leeds' negligible defensive performances in the thrashings against Crystal Palace and Liverpool respectively have cast doubt over their survival prospects.

The Whites have leaked 11 goals in their previous two matches, and have now conceded more goals than any other Premier League club (60).

READ MORE: Inside Tyler Adams's 'heart-dropping' Leeds United injury and first off-field steps to recovery

The starting XI looks bereft of leaders at the moment, but former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Schwarzer has urged Gracia to work out who is playing for themselves, and which players have the team's best interests at heart.

"Liverpool were exceptional but Leeds were below what the expectations are. The knock on affect is, how do they pick themselves up? Has that really knocked their confidence now? Two games at home in a row, they've been pumped," Schwarzer told The GegenPod Football Podcast.

"That's where the leadership will come in because the finger pointing, the people trying to blame others, everyone is looking around for a culprit when a goal is scored.

"That's where you need the strong characters in the dressing room to get people on the same page, get people focused, and that can't all be done by a manager.

"Those characters are evident on a matchday. When the fans are on your back, it's those ones who still make themselves available, those who still are trying to encourage, those ones are the ones who've got your back.

"The other ones you'll find, you'll work out pretty quickly who are the ones who're playing for themselves and making sure they look ok in front of the fans."

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