What Leeds United players have said about Javi Gracia privately

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Javi Gracia has now given his first interview since Leeds United replaced him with Sam Allardyce on Wednesday.

The Spaniard revealed why he thinks Leeds fell apart after an initial run of three wins and a draw from his first seven games in charge, claiming that confidence disappeared after the 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

In The Athletic‘s story, an interesting claim was also made about what the Leeds squad thought of Gracia.

What’s the story?

Well, after suffering a 5-1 defeat and also a 6-1 loss under Gracia, as well as a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Bournemouth, some may not expect the Leeds squad to think that highly of him.

However, it sounds as if the 53-year-old was actually quite popular in Yorkshire.

The Athletic believe Leeds players said privately that they liked Gracia and also enjoyed his training sessions at Thorp Arch.

It was simply a matter of belief slipping away after that defeat to Crystal Palace, an issue which the Spaniard was unable to solve before doubt firmly embedded itself into the squad, a development which ultimately cost him his job.

Nevertheless – despite overseeing just 12 games at Leeds before he was handed his P45 – Gracia does not seem to hold any ill feelings towards those at Elland Road.

The Pamplona-born tactician also told The Athletic that he will be cheering Leeds on from his sofa this weekend as the Whites take on Manchester City.

Gracia said: “I will be with my children, who will have their Leeds jerseys on and chanting up the Whites.”

Javi Gracia let himself down at Leeds doing one thing

Gracia seems like a good man, and it really is a shame that things didn’t work out for him at Leeds.

While it was a tough job to come into with a lot going against him, the Spaniard let himself down by refusing to play his best options, such as Wilfried Gnonto.

The Italy international has been a bright spark for Leeds in what has otherwise been a miserable season, and at one point, he seemed capable of being a PFA Young Player of the Year candidate due to his incredible displays.

However – for reasons Gnonto doesn’t even know himself, according to Jermaine Beckford – Gracia refused to start him, which was practically the equivalent of shooting himself in the foot.

Now, if the Italian plays a starring role under Allardyce, Gracia’s decision to bench him will look all the more strange.