Javi Gracia insists he still has belief in his Leeds United players but concedes his side “have to change the dynamic” after their 4-1 loss at Bournemouth on Sunday.
The result leaves Leeds without a win in five Premier League matches and only a point above the relegation zone, having played a game more than 18th-placed Leicester City and 19th-placed Everton.
“We tried to change the dynamic,” Gracia said after the match. “We were coming from some performances where we didn’t compete at the same level we could.
“We tried to find a better balance with the players who were fit. We lost Luis Sinisterra (to an ankle injury) with the last game and it was a good chance to see other players compete. That was my idea.
“I don’t like to speak much about our situation in the table but of course we have tough games. We need to keep our mentality to believe, to work hard in these next games. It’s the only way I know to deal with the situation.
“You know when I arrived the situation was even worse than now. Of course, the last results are tough but we have to change the dynamic.”
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Leeds were 2-0 up at the Vitality Stadium inside 25 minutes thanks to a Jefferson Lerma double, before Patrick Bamford pulled a goal back.
Second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Antoine Semenyo, however, condemned Leeds to their fifth defeat in seven matches. Leeds have only won three of Gracia’s 11 league matches in charge since the Spaniard took over from Jesse Marsch in February.
“We are a young team,” Gracia continued. “Young players sometimes need these process, to make mistakes, to learn from them. It’s something in this moment that is hard to accept.
“But I believe in my players. You need character, you need other values, I think my players have them. At half-time against Palace, everything changed. We have to find a way to recover our level. We have to do it as soon as possible.
“The only way to try and change is to work and to believe in the players we have. I have to try to help my players to play better and to find a way to be better, defending better, attacking better. It’s my job. I have to try and help them in a better way.”
Leeds have four matches remaining this season, with their next fixture a trip to Manchester City next Saturday. They then host Newcastle United the following weekend, before a trip to West Ham United and the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to end the campaign.
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