Javi Gracia open to new, attacking Leeds United tactic after 20-year-old makes impression - YEP 2/3/23
Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia is open to the possibility of starting with two strikers against Chelsea this weekend
Joe Donnohue
The Spaniard revealed during Thursday’s pre-match press
conference his openness towards Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter starting
alongside each other in attack this Saturday when Leeds travel to Stamford
Bridge hoping to record back-to-back wins over Chelsea for the first time in
the league since 1991/92.
Rutter started in midweek against Fulham at Craven Cottage
and was unfortunate to come away without securing his first goal for the club,
since joining in January from TSG Hoffenheim. The former Bundesliga striker was
denied by referee Chris Kavanagh who deemed Weston McKennie to have fouled
Fulham’s Harry Wilson, whose header was parried into the path of French forward
Rutter applying the finish.
On the stroke of half-time, the 20-year-old also struck the
frame of the goal with a looping header which left Cottagers ‘keeper Marek
Rodak beaten all ends up. Rutter was substituted for Patrick Bamford during the
second half, but Gracia says it may not be a question of one or the other on
Saturday.
"It's an option [for Rutter to start]. Some of you
asked me about it after the game and it's a real option to play with two
players up front.
"In this case, in the last game I'm happy with the play
of Georginio, what I'm not so happy is with the goal disallowed. Really, really
soft, and after watching [again] really soft. That circumstance can change the
game.
"During the game it was the same in the second half,
before they scored we had a clear chance, we were really close and that's why
I'm really disappointed. We wasted a good chance to get a good result.
"I think it's a good option for us to play with two up
front, with Georginio with Patrick, Patrick with Rodrigo, with Aaronson, with
all the attackers we have in the club,” Gracia added.
