Leeds United could sack Javi Gracia following Liverpool and Crystal Palace defeats – Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher believes it is possible that Leeds United could sack Javi Gracia before the end of the season after a second consecutive thrashing.
The former Watford boss has delivered 10 crucial points in his time at Elland Road and looked to have the Whites well on the way to another season in the Premier League when his side came back from a goal down to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 on 4 April.
But after Liverpool blew Leeds away at home 6-1 on Monday night (17 April), eight days after Crystal Palace ran out 5-1 winners in West Yorkshire, the question has arisen as to whether another managerial change could be on the cards, and Carragher thinks it is unlikely but far from impossible since even Marcelo Bielsa was sacked when relegation looked likely.
Speaking live on Sky Sports‘ Monday Night Football post-match analysis Dave Jones asked (10.43pm): “We have seen a tremendous to-ing and fro-ing of coaches this year Jamie in the Premier League, like no other. Is it beyond the realms of possibility that Leeds don’t do something crazy now?”
He gave figures of zero Whites wins in 10 before Gracia arrived compared to three in his first six, before the two heavy losses, and Carragher answered: “No. It’s not. They got rid of a God-like figure in Bielsa when they thought they were going to go down.
“I think it took them so long to get this guy in. They tried a few options, I think it would be really tough at this stage of the season to be looking for another manager, so I think he’ll be there between now and the end of the season.
“But if you’re talking about the next two or three games going really badly they might think, ‘Why not? Do something.’
“That’s what every other team’s doing do there… because the stakes are so high for the Premier League financially as well. I think an owner thinks, ‘Why not?'”
Disarray
Very little surprises in the Premier League these days, and Chelsea are now onto their fourth manager of the season so you can never say never.
And with the way things have gone with the Leeds United board this season the decision-making when it comes to managers sometimes defies logic.
But given how much of a scramble the club went through in trying to replace Jesse Marsch, failing to attract preferred candidates before attempting to muddle through with Michael Skubala in charge before landing Gracia, getting into that situation again would been insanity.
Upon arrival Gracia had done a solid job in improving the results, having gone months without a win under Marsch, and prior to the second half of the 5-1 loss to Crystal Palace safety looked like it was just a few games away.
But 11 goals and two home thrashings later and it suddenly looks like the wheels have come off, and unless the Spaniard can arrest the slide in the next game or two there will be huge concerns about the future.
At this late stage, with the support staff already having tried and failed, it is hard to see where another option can be found who can implement their system quickly enough to turn things around.
The likes of Rafa Benitez are always on the lookout for a Premier League job but given his last couple of jobs there have to be doubts about whether he would be a massive improvement.
It seems unlikely but after the previous two games, in front of the home fans and the board, all bets are off now.
In other Leeds United news, Gary Lineker has given a sarcastic reaction to controversy at Elland Road on Monday night.