Javi Gracia faces the media on Thursday afternoon for his pre-match press conference. The Leeds United head coach will take questions from television, radio, print and online journalists at Thorp Arch ahead of the Chelsea clash on Saturday.
Here is a run-down of some of the main topics on the agenda for the boss to address at the training ground today.
Tuesday's absentees
There were seven senior faces absent from Tuesday’s Leeds squad at Fulham in the FA Cup. While the new head coach may be slowly trying to break the will of the journalists asking for medical updates with his sheepish straight bats, the questions will keep coming.
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Adam Forshaw, Stuart Dallas and Rodrigo seem to remain the long-term absentees, but updates are due on Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Luis Sinisterra and Max Wober. The Austrian may have only been rested in midweek, but Gracia is yet to be asked.
Chelsea’s form and Potter’s position
Inevitably, Gracia is going to be put on the spot about Saturday’s opponents. Chelsea are in a tailspin of epic proportions by their high, expensively-assembled standards and Graham Potter is under immense pressure on the terraces, if not in the boardroom.
The Leeds boss is sure to be quizzed on their precarious state and how the Whites can hope to exploit that to their own advantage.
The system
One of the switches Gracia made at Fulham was to the formation with the introduction of a third central midfielder. The Spaniard may be asked about his reflections on that switch and whether it’s something he may be tempted with in similar circumstances against a quality opponent on Saturday.
Rutter or Bamford?
Georginio Rutter was arguably the standout performer of the night in the cup and he has put some pressure on Patrick Bamford, who has looked out of sorts. Do not expect a head coach this wily to give away team selections, but he could be pushed for his thoughts on the dilemma leading the line.
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