Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams has revealed what his side are doing differently under their new manager Javi Gracia ahead of the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The former Watford boss was appointed in the Elland Road hot seat last week and got off to a winning start before falling to FA Cup defeat against Fulham in midweek.
Tyler Adams said: “He’s impressed me a lot. When he first came in, we didn’t have a lot of time to execute a perfect game plan for Southampton but what he did is focus on key bullet points, or key details that we need to improve. One of those things was with the ball. How can we break teams down more efficiently in possession whether from goal-kicks or when we get into the attacking third? Not just going to the goal straight away. Leeds are notorious for winning the ball back quickly and going straight to the goal. But not every time we win the ball, do we need to play the first pass forward that we see. Maybe we can keep the ball for two, three passes, switch the ball from side to side and start to tire the opponent. You saw that a little bit more against Southampton. He offers more of a balanced approach to the way that we’re going to play. It’s not just all out pressing, or all out possession, but of a balance.”
A sub battle to the game might be between USMNT captains past and present. Adams was made new skipper for his country before the World Cup and led them to a respectable last-16 finish, building towards the 2026 tournament. He took over from Chelsea’s own star Christian Pulisic though.
