Javi Gracia press conference highlights: Leeds United team news revealed as Gnonto and Wober both out - YEP 30/3/23
Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia hosts his pre-match press conference this afternoon ahead of the Whites’ trip to Arsenal this weekend
Joe Donnohue
Leeds’ trip to table-topping Arsenal on Saturday promises to
be one of their toughest tests this season. The Gunners have been imperious at
home and as the season nears a conclusion, Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking
to avoid any slip-ups in order to keep their hopes of a Premier League title
alive.
Javi Gracia will be without Tyler Adams this weekend, whilst
Willy Gnonto and Max Wober are both doubts after picking up injuries over the
international break.
Leeds midfielder Adams underwent surgery on a hamstring
injury and is expected to be out for an extended period, which could render him
absent until pre-season.
Despite Gracia’s reluctance to discuss injured players in
previous press conferences, the Spaniard is expected to provide an update this
afternoon.
Gracia on Wober and Gnonto
I’m sorry but I cannot clarify because I don’t know. What I
know is they’re out for this game. I think it will be more time, one week more,
two weeks, it depends on their evolution.
Gracia on Forest and Palace
To be honest I’m only thinking of Arsenal. I know we have to
play two important games at home in seven days. We are thinking it’s a good
chance to get points with the support of our fans but we are focusing now on
Arsenal.
Gracia on rotation
It would be good to rotate the players. We need to recover
more players because in some positions we don’t have players to rotate. I think
now we are only focus on the next [game] because I prefer not to think too much
about the whole month because it’s going to be very tough for us
Gracia on Summerville
Crysencio from my arrival in all the games he play he show a
good level, sometimes playing from the beginning in other games making the
difference in the minutes he played. Against Wolves he made the pass to Rodrigo
for score the last goal. Important things for the team and the quality he has I’m
sure he will help the team, not only Cree, I think Luis as well, all the
players, Rodri for sure, Patrick, all the players playing up front.
Gracia on Cooper
Liam is ready, of course. All of us could see the game, I
suffered a little bit but I enjoyed because I could see Liam competing again.
I’m sure in this moment of the season we need all the players ready. With the
busy schedule we need all of them
Gracia on what the team have achieved over the break
I think it was good for us, we didn’t have many players but
it was time to train with players from U21 team and to know more about them, to
try and improve the level of the players in the process to be better. I think
it was good in that sense. After that we tried doing something orientated to
the next game.
Gracia on tactics
If you start maybe you can decide more things about the
players you have and then you can organise the different shapes or formations
you prepare to play. Most important is the characteristics of the players you
have. I think it’s important to value all the time the moments of the different
players. The team you are playing against and after decide what plan is the best
for that game, the best formation, best shape, before the game, during the game
is good for the team.
Gracia on Sinisterra
Luis and Rodri are players in this moment they are improving
their condition but they are not in the best condition. They need time training
more, competing more, more minutes. In this moment I can tell you Luis is
improving, he’s feeling better day by day and I’m sure he’s going to help us in
the next games, as Rodri is going to do as well.
Gracia on Arteta
I was player in San Sebastian, Real Sociedad. I don’t know
him personally because I didn’t spend any time in the past with him. They are a
good team, he is a good manager.
Gracia on Arsenal
The team is the top of the table and we have to be ready for
that. They are doing many things well, it’s a team you can see the stats, they
always have against Bournemouth for example, they had 80 per cent of
possession. In other games they always have around 70 per cent. You have to be
ready to defend more and then attack. When you attack, be aggressive, clinical,
take the chances you have. For sure you need to make a very good defensive
work. If you don’t do it you don’t have any chance.
I try to give my idea, to help my players to give their
best, not only individually but collectively as well. I think we are doing
well, not only because we got good results but different performances we had
always were good performances, competing in all the games, options to get
results in all the games we’ve played. I think it’s the best way for the
future, we know in this month we have to play many games and keep or improve
our level if we are to achieve our target
Gracia on working with players during the break
We had the chance to train with seven, eight players during
last week and we tried to take this time to train with them and to recover the
best conditions. We prepare two days, today and yesterday, maybe we have time
tomorrow. This is the time we’ve had with the players.
Gracia on alternatives
They are important players for us and we don’t have a very
big squad. I am positive and optimistic and I believe in my squad.
Gracia on injuries
Tyler we’ll see his evolution, after his surgery we’ll see
if he can play any games this season. We take it day by day. Wober and Gnonto,
hamstring and ankle injuries, they need time to recover, they are out of the
team.
Gracia on the internationals
Sometimes it’s good because you can see your players
enjoying with the national teams, scoring goals, getting good results. But in
the last international break we had some big problems - we lost some important
players for the next games. We’ll see, because it’s a big problem for us
Gracia on an important month
As you say we have a busy schedule in April but we prefer to
put all our energy in the next game, try to prepare as best as possible because
if we don’t do it we don’t have any chance. We give 100 per cent in this game,
then two days to prepare for the next.
Gracia on Arsenal and players’ confidence