Can you talk to us about how the last 24 hours have played out for you as it all been a little bit of a whirlwind and what's the plan now moving forward as you prepare to face Manchester United?
Yeah, sure. The last 24 hours, yesterday, Victor, Angus, came up to meet Jesse. Obviously you know what’s going with Jesse and it was a discussion that had to take place. But then after that, they pulled me and a few other staff members in to discuss how we get through this interim period in the short term with Manchester United away in a few hours’ time or a day's time.
So, we had meetings we put a plan together that we thought collectively was the best thing to do moving forward at the moment.
There will be three of you in the dugout, so in practical terms, how will that work, who will pick the team?
Yeah, it's a collective approach. We put the team together. I think any staff team in the modern way picks a team together and I'm here doing the press, but we're all behind the scenes working really hard to pull a team that we think is really competitive on the pitch to have a good go at Manchester United.
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So Manchester United tomorrow night, is that quite a daunting prospect and is there much that you can change in such a short space of time?
I would say an exciting prospect. It's Manchester United and I think the players, obviously change is change for players, they’re professional players and I don't think any of us need to get any players up for Manchester United at Old Trafford. But I think it's more of an exciting prospect and we'll just do the best job we can do really. Not daunting, but exciting.
Can you just tell us a bit about the other two. We know a bit about you from the U21s, but we don't know much about Chris and Paco. Who’s doing what, then?
Yeah, so Chris has worked with Jesse and come in a couple of weeks ago. He's still new to the team and still needs to get to know the squad but he's been around the Premier League before with Manchester United as well, so Chris is in there with the staff team.
Paco Gallardo was working with me the under-21s as a development coach, he’s got experience with Spain and B teams so we've got a good staff team. We've got Marcos, the goalkeeping coach as well. So it will form as any other technical staff team will work.
Tactically, how do you approach it? Do you sort of continue with what Jesse was doing or between the three of you have you got your own idea of how to set it up?
Yeah, I think it's important. We've got 24 hours so we've got one session this afternoon that we've prepared with the players so certain things will have to be the same because there’s no point throwing the baby out the bathwater with certain changes, but I think a few little tweaks in maybe how we want to play in maybe a few differences, you might see.
Fundamentally, we need to make sure that the players understand the game plan that we want to deliver.
Do you feel there’s a necessity to be on the front foot, knowing what the nature of the game is with regards to Leeds fans and Manchester United?
I don't think we can be passive. I think we also need to be pragmatic with where we're playing at Old Trafford against a really in form team.
What about who’s fit and who isn't. Who have you got to select from Michael?
So the usual sort of longer term injuries, I think you know about and that's not changed. We've got a few bumps and bruises but I don’t really want to give that away at the minute till I know how we're looking after training.
This is a temporary situation, but if this goes OK, you might be in the frame?
This is a temporary situation. I'm happy to support the club and look after the club and this moment of time why they work really hard to find a new head coach. I'll go back to my old role when this is done. I'll just do the best job I can do.
It's been a whirlwind clearly for you but personally what’s it been like?
I've been in a few jobs where change has been quick and I've been around clubs and in my other roles, I've seen change quite a lot. So I think in these moments, it's about being calm. It's about being positive. It's been busy, I won’t lie to you, it has been really busy, last night was really busy, this morning is really busy, but it's exciting. I think as coaches we enjoy challenges and this is a good challenge for the players and for myself and the technical team.
And have the owners given you any idea of what the timeframe is, the schedule is, for the weeks for the weeks ahead?
No, I’ve left that with them. I think they're working really hard behind the scenes to come up with a solution and they’re really positive with that, but that’s with them. I’ve got enough to do with the game.
What would you say the mood of the squad is like at the moment given what's happened over the last 24-48 hours?
Jesse was a good guy. The team was working hard for Jesse but they're used to changes as professional footballers. I think the mood is, I wouldn't say down, but the mood is OK. The mood’s about we've got to focus on Manchester United, we've got to be positive and we've got to go after three points.
Manchester United have won the last 13 at Old Trafford, it's not going to be easy, is it?
I don't think anybody thinks it's going to be easy. But as long as we're competitive, we put a good show on we’re competitive on the pitch, that's the most we can ask for and we can do something and nick something, that would be good.
Patrick Bamford came in for some criticism for his comments after the game at Nottingham Forest at the weekend. What did you make of his comments?
I think Pat was just being open about what he thought about the situation at the time and how he was playing the game and he thought he was a little bit isolated in that sense. But I think it came from the heart.
In terms of the solution, you don't want to be passive and you want to be pragmatic at times tomorrow. What does that look like tactically?
So we will set up a team that is competitive without the ball and will try and be aggressive without the ball and we'll set the team that we think we can exploit their weaknesses. No doubt they'll do the same with us, as well.
Obviously, some elements will have to remain the same because it's such a quick turnaround, which elements are you looking to tweak?
I think we've been really, really good without the ball. I think if you look at our goal difference, it’s good. I think we’ve been good without the ball, we’ve been really on the front foot and aggressive. I think that's a positive thing that we can’t change at the minute and maybe a few tweaks here and there with how the team structure is and maybe with the ball, that's what we’re looking to do.
Have you had chance to speak to Jesse since the decision, has he addressed the staff before he left?
Yeah I saw Jesse before he left, he spoke to all the staff before he left.
Can you shed any light on what was said?
I think that’s personal terms. It was good. It was nothing. Managers go through these situations but that was good.
You mentioned the mood in the camp, I imagine you've had conversations with the senior players in the group what feedback have they given you on this decision?
Let's get ready for Manchester United. Let's get ready for Manchester United, let's train well, let's do the best job we can do.
Have you had any indication yet or has it been suggested to you that you might have Sunday’s game as well?
I'm just getting through this first game with Manchester United in terms of time and whatever happens between tomorrow and Sunday is up to the board.
I’m let to believe you’re quite friendly with Gareth Southgate?
I worked with Gareth Southgate, yeah.
Is he someone you could ring if you wanted to sort of ask him for advice on how to deal with a big occasion like tomorrow?
Yeah, sure. I've had loads of good messages from lots of friends that said if you want some advice in this situation, I'm happy for that. So I think along my journey over the last 25 years of coaching, I've made some good allies and good friends along the way. I've got lots of support network around me.
Is Gareth someone you will be tempted to ring?
No, I don't think I'll ring Gareth, he’s busy enough.
When was you last at Old Trafford?
I went to watch the U18s Youth Cup final between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, which was a great game.
A slightly different atmosphere then?
Slightly differently but there was 68,000 there so it was busy.
I know football is quite fickle but were you surprised Jesse got sacked. Did you expect him to be given more time?
I think the situation is very hard for the club and for Jesse. Jesse did a great job. He tried to build a team and a way of playing. Ultimately, the board decided that he didn't think he was getting enough points and it’s a points based industry.
Can I ask how Chris could help given he has been at Manchester United very recently?
We've got Chris and Ewan Sharp behind the scenes, who worked for Manchester United. So they've got a lot of insight into to the players there and their attributes and their profiles. Obviously the staff has changed there recently so their manager will play in a different way but we've got a lot of good insight into certain things.
Obviously you heard from Jesse yesterday, it's a private conversation, but how was he, what was his mood?
I think everybody that has to leave a club when you want to do well is disappointed. It would be the same with me it would be the same with any manager. So it’s a disappointing time for Jesse and I don't think we could expect any different of that. He was very professional. He was very caring for the staff and just said his goodbyes in a really professional and caring manner.
Just personally for you going to Old Trafford leading Leeds United against Manchester United. How much are you looking forward to that?
I think it's probably every coach's dream, right, to go and lead a team in the Premier League against Manchester United. I've been lucky enough to work hard and lucky enough to be trusted by the board and Victor and Angus to lead the team out on Wednesday but I'll be up for this as much as the players and as much as the other coaching staff. It's very exciting.
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