George Overhill

Fri 24 February 2023 11:10, UK

Javi Gracia admits 10 games without a win at Leeds United is “a lot” as he commented on the task to Marca for the first time since his appointment.

The Spaniard was named the new man in charge on Tuesday (21 February), tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League after a nightmare weekend plunged the Whites into the relegation zone.

But while the former Watford boss is positive about his chances, given the atmosphere he sees in West Yorkshire, those chances are being affected by the fact he is still yet to receive a work permit, which currently means he may miss the crunch meeting with bottom side Southampton on Saturday (25 February).

On the challenge he faces until the end of the season, the new Whites boss told Marca: “It is a beautiful experience in a young team with the desire to do things well. We have three months to work on it and with a little order and confidence we can improve the situation.

“10 games without winning is a lot, but I see a positive atmosphere. [Let’s] see if we manage to find the key and, also with a bit of luck, change this dynamic.”

Clock is ticking

All eyes will be on the Leeds United press conference on Friday (24 February), which will be held according to Premier League rules whether Gracia is available to start work or not.

Unless the 52-year-old walks out to sit in front of the media in a dramatic entrance the comments to Marca look set to be his only public words on the task at hand for now.

And that task could get bigger before he has a chance to do anything about it, and possibly the 10 games without winning will become 11 unless a combination of Michael Skubala and the home crowd can lift the players from the limp 1-0 loss at Everton last week.

Gracia put a lot of focus on the bottom-of-the-table match-up when he gave his presentation to the Whites board in order to get the job.

So if he ends up watching it from the stands without having spent time on the training ground with the players it is quite clearly far from ideal.

The squad at his disposal should give him a positive outlook coming in, as they appear to have been underperforming, and if he can unlock the full potential he may address the state of the table quickly.

But it is a highly frustrating start to life for him at Elland Road, as well as for the fans, for the Friday press conference to be approaching a day before this crucial match with, as yet, no word on whether he will be involved in either.

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has detailed a request the club has made to the FA over the work permit issue.