Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
William Jackson

Every word Javi Gracia said on Leeds United's draw, Gnonto, substitutions, Meslier and Sinisterra

Obviously there's a big chance at end of the game. Do you feel it's a game you should have won or do you think it was a fair result?

To be honest in this moment, I don't know. I think you have one more point but after competing in the game as we did, starting winning and managing the game during the most part of, of it is hard to get only one point. Even after conceding the goal we've had the most clearest chance from a corner kick with Marc Roca. We have to do to keep going to preparing this game as better as possible and try to get the three points in in next game.

You seemed to have the better of the midfield in the first half but in the second half Leicester got on top of it. Did you feel tempted to make the substitutions earlier or more substitutions than you did?

We had to change Luis Sinisterra because was injured, the first half, and after in that moment when we were suffering in that moment of the game we decided to do to put Brenden in the middle because Rodri, you know, he can play some time of the game but not all and he was working very hard. In that moment we are suffering, defending in our half and then we decided to be a little bit more compact with Brenden in that position. After doing that change of course we can we had only one window and then next change we have to do it with security and the players were well situated. Patrick was tired but always is a difference in that moment of the game defending set pieces as well. Jack on the right side was playing well. And then I didn't find a way to be more offensive in that moment of the game. In the middle I think both were doing good work. Of course the goal from a challenge going with one player after one player is going alone after one pass. In that play we were a little bit soft.

Read more: Leeds United player ratings as Meslier and Harrison catch eye in Leicester City draw

Were you tempted to use either Adam Forshaw or Gnonto at any point?

As I explained to you, the position to be stronger was Brenden in front of two midfielders to be with three players there trying to be a little more stronger without losing our options in counter and to have more options to attack. After that is true I try to look for the option to substitute another player but I didn’t find the best option in that moment. As you say Adam can play in the middle, Willy can play up front or on one side. We had many options as well. Georgi could play as a striker but in that moment I didn't decide to do

There was a thing in the first half where the referee came over and spoke to the benches and the fourth official. What was that about because we don't know?

I don’t know. Nothing, they didn't tell us anything.

The nerves in the stadium that the fans obviously felt, players possibly as well, Were you feeling that as well tonight?

I can feel the supporters are with the team as I expected from the beginning to the end but as the player as all the people love this club in this moment are suffering and is difficult to manage to accept some, some moments, some results. But we have to be strong because there are other teams in a similar situation than us. It's something we have to manage. It’s important in this moment when there are only five games left to manage the situation and to support the team like they did today. I would like to thank all of them for their support they gave to the players. This way we'll be closer to achieve our objectives.

You understand the frustration of supporters who want to see Willy Gnonto because they remember what he did earlier in the season?

I can understand all the feelings my supporters but my job is try to get to take decisions and I tried to do it thinking what is the best for the team. Of course in the last games in this game Willy could play Georgi could play or Adam could play, many, many players can play. But when you are there and you have to decide you try to look for always what you're thinking in that moment is the best for the team. Knowing Willy and Adam as you say are very good players and in the next game for the next games, for sure help the team.

The team dropped deeper and deeper in the second half. Was that a plan or was that just a natural reaction to the equaliser?

They were better. They were better in that part of the game because they move in that moment they move Tielemans a little bit on the right side, creating superiority there and after that to be strong, to be compact with full-backs high, we have to defend a little bit deeper. It was a moment where we have to defend there but in our plan always tried to play more time in opposite half like we did after in the second half.

What does Gnonto need to do in training this week to get back into the team?

I explain why. It was a decision that I had to take in that moment of the game. All the players are training well, you know, I only have good words for all of them. But it's nothing special about one player.

Luis Sinisterra came off and there was no Max Wober today, can you give us updates on the pair of them?

Not yet but I think is important because in this moment he feels pain and we'll see. The doctor has to check next in the next hours. We see after. We'll see but it was coming after one play when the referee decided that wasn't a foul. Not a yellow card.

Was Meslier’s performance today a positive for you after so much criticism over the last few days?

Of course, he's a great keeper. But like all the players and even younger players come up and downs and you know this process is something you have to accept. In this moment is hard sometimes because when someone make some mistake, all of us only see the bad things, but of course he's a very good keeper. All the players we have are good players, we only have to manage the moment, try to stay together and try to get the results we need until the end.

How do you gain some momentum because you have very little right now?

I think the before the game we knew today will be a demanding game. It was an important game in between two teams that both need a good result. We started well showing the desire of the team the commitment of the team. After starting the winning we had to kill the game but it wasn't possible because we were playing against a very good team as well with good players. It was impossible to manage until the end and it was a shame.

Have you had the chance to speak to Patrick after his miss, how do you support him after that?

I like to be honest with you. That chance is coming from offside position. Patrick's chance in my opinion, is offside position. For me, the clearest chance is in that moment was the corner kick and Marc Roca in a good header. It was for me the chance to get a better result in that moment. We tried but it was late.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.