Leeds United boss Javi Gracia has admitted his side “must try to score more” as they look to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Leeds currently sit 18th in the table after 26 games of the season, with 23 points to their name so far after just five wins all season.
Fortunately for them that tally means they are only one point from safety at present, with only three points separating 12th placed Crystal Palace and the bottom three.
The big issue for Leeds in recent weeks, though, has been scoring goals, with the absence of Rodrigo causing problems and the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and others struggling to fill the void.
That’s seen them lose several games by a 1-0 scoreline, and Gracia says he and his team know where they have to improve.
“The only recipe we can have is to try to give our best,” he told DAZN, relayed by Mundo Plus.
“If we don’t, there is no option. Our best chance, and I think the players are aware of this and so are the fans, is to give our best in every game.
One of the big decisions Gracia has to make is who is forming his team behind the forward line and thus creating the chances for them to convert.
That has seen him rotating his side since he replaced Jesse Marsch and inevitably led to some previous key players sitting out.
One of those is Marc Roca, who was left out of the squad for clashes with Manchester United and Everton in the middle of February and only managed four minutes against Southampton the following week.
He also sat on the bench for the loss to Chelsea and managed 66 minutes in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Brighton. That’s a big change for the Spaniard, who has been a key player for Leeds since arriving from Bayern Munich in the summer.
Gracia has looked to assure those who may be concerned, though, backing his compatriot and insisting he should be starring for the Spanish national team.
“He has been, is and will be important,” he added.
“The importance of Marc’s participation in the team, from my point of view, should not be reduced to whether he starts every game or not.
“He is going to be important for us, without a doubt. I would even go as far as to say on the national scene. He is a player that I think could be helping in the national team, if the coach considers it appropriate.
“He is a player who is at a very good level, regardless of whether he plays more or less minutes.”
