Junior Firpo has told Leeds Live what Javi Gracia is like in training and how the Leeds United manager’s relaxed approach helps the players – to play without any kind of fear or criticism, managing training in a “different way”.
Firpo, 26, has continued his resurgent form since coming back into the Leeds side under Michael Skubala. The left-back has been excellent in recent performance. The belief being that Gracia’s system gets the best out of Firpo.
Indeed, Jesse Marsch preferred his sides to play narrowly. While, Gracia wants more width and both Firpo and Luke Ayling overlapping, getting into the box. It saw Firpo score the winner against Southampton in Gracia’s first game.
Firpo says that behind the scenes and on the training pitch, Gracia takes a relaxed approach to training. He controls training but does not intervene and is just happy to oversee things. He says that it helps the Leeds players perform.
“He gets involved. He manages the training, but in a different way. He is really calm. This is cool for us well because this means we can be training relaxed, playing relaxed without anybody screaming at you in the ear all the time.”
Junior Firpo says relaxed Javi Gracia approach helps Leeds players
There are advantages and disadvantages to this approach. As Firpo states, the advantage being that the Leeds stars can train in their manner, there will be a relaxed, positive feeling among the players. It helps morale stay high.
Gracia may have identified that this is the approach to take, especially in the midst of a relegation scrap. But what Gracia must be wary of, is the training becoming too relaxed and not intense. Then, it could hamper game day.
So, Gracia needs to find a balance – like he has done in regards to on-the-pitch tactics. He needs to do so in order to keep the Leeds players engaged, but without overworking them. Switched on, without tiring them out.
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