Prior experience of ‘tough moments’ gives Leeds hope

IN MANY respects, Javi Gracia has been here before.

Namely right at the start of his Leeds United tenure back in the dying embers of winter.

Ahead of his first match in charge, another relegation six-pointer at Elland Road like tonight’s fixture, there was discord in the air among supporters following painful defeats at Goodison Park and the City Ground when Leeds were clearly not in a good place. The same applies now, even if the manner of United's recent eviscerations to Liverpool and Crystal Palace were more gruesome.

Gracia's maiden match, of course, ended in a precious 1-0 victory over Southampton in a must-win fixture on February 25.

Two months on, Leeds face another against a separate side down among the dead men in Leicester City. A similar outcome would greatly revive Gracia's side in the present, however it arrives.

Gracia said: "I think all of us can feel we are living in tough moments in the most important part of the season.

"But at the same time, I remember when I arrived, we were second bottom and emotionally in a difficult moment as well. And we were able to change that dynamic. We did itandwecandoitagainafterthese three bad results.

"We can change that dynamic and try to come back to the good results."

Following tonight's game, Leeds then head to Bournemouth for another match of immense significance against a direct rival on Sunday. Gracia, wisely, is not looking that far ahead.

He is doing it tough alongside everyone else of a Leeds persuasion.

A quietly-spoken individual who is plainly at his happiest away from media attention, the 52-year-old is clearly feeling the hurt of a painful few weeks and feels a sense of responsibility.

He has six games to turn things around and rescue Leeds's season and his own prospects of sticking around at Elland Road, quite possibly.

He added: "All the games are important, the next game is important. The moment I am living (managing Leeds), I put my life there.

"I put everything into this next game and challenge. The six games are my life. We are all concentrating on that. "I enjoy my job. I prefer to be a player than a manager, but I can't do it now. I know there are good moments and bad moments. We are working hard because there are many people in this – workers all around the club – that deserve to remain in the Premier League.

"Thinking of that, I have to put in everything to achieve the objective.

"I do my job on the training ground and see Victor (Orta) and Angus (Kinnear – CEO) around the team after and before the games and they are always supporting me and the team. I will be very happy for these people (should Leeds stay up) as I know the effort they are doing to finish well."

Last six games:

DLLLLW.

Referee: P Tierney (Wigan).

Last time: Leeds 1 Leicester 1, November 7, 2021; Premier League.