After a whirlwind six weeks at the helm, 10 new additions to the squad and now into the cut and thrust of the Championship campaign, to say it’s been a hectic start for Xisco would be an understatement.
As the manager continues to mould the team in his image, impart new ideas and put his stamp on the squad, Xisco has called for calm heads, a little time and patience during this transitional period.
The hard work has continued on the training ground this week and with more new faces through the door, the squad is taking shape.
Djeidi Gassama, an exciting young talent from PSG, is the latest to land at Hillsborough and using the former PSG starlet as an example, Xisco told swfc.co.uk:
“Gassama has only joined his new teammates a short while and to learn all that we want in two days is not possible. Of course, we need time.
“I need the people to have a little bit of patience about the situation. The new players haven't had a pre-season, only Bambo. We need to improve a lot of things, for sure. But every day we are closer. I work with them every day and they give me their all.
"We are getting better and better. At home we'll play in front of our fans tomorrow and we'll give 200 per cent to try to take the first three points."
Preston represent another early, stern challenge.
With a win and a draw from their opening two games, Xisco continued:
“It's a difficult team, for sure. They play aggressively, are organised and they know exactly what they want and have had time with their coach. They'll give us a good game.
“This week in training we've tried to improve, giving better solutions in moments of the games where we have had some problems. We'll see what happens."
In terms of the team, there was positive news on Barry Bannan, Liam Palmer and George Byers.
The skipper was forced to withdraw at half time last weekend at Hull with an ankle injury, while Palmer and Byers are making good strides to return to full fitness.
“Barry is better,” the manager said. “He trained and I think he’s 100 per cent ready. We’ll see how he reacts and decide after.
“Palmer is better but he had an operation in the summer and played 15 minutes in pre-season and he got 10 minutes against Southampton. Maybe he can be in the next game, maybe he plays.
“With George, if I'm happy with one player, it is him.
“He gave me a very good pre-season and we've spoken. Every day he's better and better.
“He is ready - I don't know if he'll start or not but one of the things for me is I'm very happy he's back with full power.
“We have one individual plan for him to try and give him better things. But as I say, if I'm happy with one player in the team it is him because he gives me 200 per cent in the training."