Phil Hay has told his Athletic podcast that he has noticed a bit of Marcelo Bielsa in Leeds United boss Javi Gracia since the Spaniard has arrived at Elland Road – in that he focuses on the team as a whole, rather than individuals.
Gracia has made a very solid start to life as Leeds manager. But things are about to get a whole lot harder. Leeds take on Arsenal away on Saturday and while it is a free hit, injury has begun to hamper the Whites at the wrong time.
Tyler Adams might not play again this season – joining Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas on the sidelines. Leeds duo Max Wober and Willy Gnonto have knocks after playing for Austria and Italy during the recent international break.
But Gracia has made Leeds more solid, more in a position to be able to control games. Hay spoke on Friday morning on his Athletic podcast, saying he’s noticed Gracia focuses on the collective rather than the individual – like Bielsa.
“I see a little shade of Bielsa in Gracia; he doesn’t fixate on individual footballers. Gracia, in the way Bielsa thinks, focuses on the collective, the squad as a whole. He doesn’t seem to me like a coach who is reliant on individuals.”
Phil Hay has noticed a bit of Marcelo Bielsa in Leeds boss Javi Gracia
Certainly, Gracia is more of a tactical thinker and has clearly changed the way Jesse Marsch had his players playing. The American gaffer was tactical but seemed to approach things as if he was a friend of the Leeds players.
With Gracia, in the same way Bielsa did, he looks as if he is more of a school teacher. Marc Roca described his style as “strict and fun” and that is what Hay is alluding to. Certainly, it seems to be working. Arsenal away is next up.
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