Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams has revealed what his side are doing differently under their new manager Javi Gracia ahead of the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The former Watford boss was appointed in the Elland Road hot seat last week and got off to a winning start before falling to FA Cup defeat against Fulham in midweek.
For Graham Potter the match is a chance to start overturning the bad form that has plagued the past four months. His side have won just twice in their last 15 games and lost to Leeds' relegation rivals Southampton a fortnight ago in the most damning of the recent results.
A game against another bottom three side will offer the opportunity for a go at redemption, but also comes with the pressure of not winning throwing up even more uncertainty for his job. He also faces the prospect of going up against a new manager.
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That's not to worry though with Adams providing a brief lowdown on how his team want to play. "He's impressed me a lot. When he first came in, we didn't have a lot of time to execute a perfect game plan for Southampton but what he did is focus on key bullet points, or key details that we need to improve," Adams told BBC West Yorkshire Sports Daily.
"One of those things was with the ball. How can we break teams down more efficiently in possession whether from goal-kicks or when we get into the attacking third? Not just going to the goal straight away. Leeds are notorious for winning the ball back quickly and going straight to the goal. But not every time we win the ball, do we need to play the first pass forward that we see.
"Maybe we can keep the ball for two, three passes, switch the ball from side to side and start to tire the opponent. You saw that a little bit more against Southampton. He offers more of a balanced approach to the way that we're going to play. It's not just all out pressing, or all out possession, but of a balance."
A sub battle to the game might be between USMNT captains past and present. Adams was made new skipper for his country before the World Cup and led them to a respectable last-16 finish, building towards the 2026 tournament. He took over from Chelsea's own star Christian Pulisic though.
The winger, who has been injured since early January, is making steps towards recovery for the game at SW6 and is hopeful of getting out on the pitch once more. He has come back to full training ahead of the game and will be keen to pit himself against his fellow countryman.
Pulisic and Adams have played together 31 times for their country despite being relatively young for international football and have great experience built up between them. This will be just the second time they have gone head-to-head though, with that match coming earlier this season in Leeds' 3-0 win at Elland Road.
As well as looking to get revenge for that, Pulisic will be keen to make a mark and prove himself up against his international teammate. It is especially prominent a fixture for the attacker as three players from Gregg Berhalter's USA side feature.
Weston McKennie and Brenden Aaronson are the other two players for Leeds coming from the states. It was in the game earlier this season that Pulisic caused quite a stir within the Chelsea fanbase, laughing and joking with his international teammates after the game and posting an image of it on social media.
He will be hoping to have the last laugh this time round.
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