Gabriel Gudmundsson: Leeds United form, more sprinting and his 2026 dream — Leeds Live 22/12/25
The Swedish left-back has spoken about the impact of Elland Road, his new role at Leeds United and life outside of football
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
Leeds United left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson spoke to our
Leeds United reporter Isaac Johnson for our Marching On Together newsletter.
The Leeds star held a Q&A on the team’s form, his new role as a wing-back
and the impact of Elland Road on the season.
He also detailed what he will be eating for his Christmas
dinner. Here's the transcript of that Q&A which was sent to newsletter
subscribers last week. You can sign up to the Marching On Together newsletter
here.
Gabi, things have taken a big upturn at Leeds United - what
has changed?
Gudmundsson: “I think since we started this season, we had
really good performances in most of the games and I think, for myself, that we
could have more points that we have at the moment.
“But still that’s the Premier League - it’s very, very tough
to win games and get points but I think our performances have been very good,
especially at home.
“It’s a pattern that we have to keep going with - these
performances and the faith we have. So we’ll keep going like that.”
How is the way Leeds are playing at the moment benefitting
you?
“Of course, sometimes you need to change things and
obviously we all can see that when we change the formation lately we gain some
important points.
“I think as a football player you need to adapt, whatever
the system or whatever the situation is because we know that in this league
it’s very, very tough so sometimes you need to adapt depending on which game
you play.”
Are you enjoying it more?
“I mean I’m enjoying winning games and taking points, that’s
the most important [thing].”
Can you talk us through the difference, or the benefits, for
your position when you play in the 3-5-2? How does it change from the 4-3-3?
“I think playing with a three in the back makes it a bit
more compact because you have more players around the box and the opposite
[4-3-3] is that you can have more players up front. It depends also a little
bit on what team you’re playing, I will say.
“But I think for me if I look at myself and the position, of
course you have a little more freedom going forward because you have no wing in
front of you, so that’s maybe the little bit of a difference. And you’re also
closer to the [wing] so you can be more aggressive. Again, it’s dependant on
who you’re playing.”
Do you have to run more?
“I don’t know really, I haven’t checked from playing with
four or five. But obviously yes it’s a bit more sprinting in front because it’s
more open than when you have a winger to combine with.”
In this 3-5-2 system, obviously certain players move around
and do different roles. If Daniel Farke asked you to play as part of the back
three, how comfortable would you feel?
“That was what I played in Sweden with the national team for
many matches. So I’m used to going around a little bit in [different] positions
because in my past I played winger, wing-back, left-back and centre defender in
a three.
“I think that’s one of my strengths to adapt very quickly
and take in the information and to go out to play with that information.
“But again, I think it’s very important that we have this
kind of change that we can go from a four to a five, depending on how the match
looks. You can see that in Brentford when we had to push, we changed and went
direct again, and we get something out of it. So it’s important to have this.”
From the outside, it seemed like the second half of
Manchester City was a turning point, potentially, for you guys’ confidence. Was
that the same feeling inside the dressing room as well?
“I would say that we always have confidence, especially when
we play at home. I feel very, very strong there. It feels like it doesn’t
matter who team will come there, we know that we can get something out of it.
“So again, I think that [vs Man City] is because we changed,
but I think it’s a good thing to have so we can adapt to our game.”
In this country, we all like to think how special and how
different English football is. I just wonder from your perspective, what are
the big changes in England compared to the previous things you’ve played in?
“I understand the question because I think for me and for a
lot of Swedish people we grew up watching the Premier League, so it’s normal
but I think there are a lot of good players and good leagues not just Premier
League.
“I’ve been part of the French league which I think is a
really good league, very physical, and I think makes me into the player I am
today - to come here directly to compete at this level in the Premier League. I
think that says something about the other leagues as well.”
Is it similar in terms of - obviously the quality - but is
the style different in any way, or is it fairly similar to France?
“Physically I would have said the same, but again, I think
in the Premier League there are probably, I would say, more quality players on
the ball.
“Obviously we have a lot of quality here in England and the
best teams because they are competing in the European competition and they are
always in the top, so yeah, obviously there is a lot of quality here.”
Going into 2026, you want to keep Leeds United in the
Premier League, you’ve got your Sweden play-off game in March - it could be a
massive few months in your career. Could it potentially be one of the biggest
seasons of your career?
“It could be a fantastic year to be honest. To qualify for
the World Cup will be something else - a dream. Not only for me but for all the
Swedish people back home.
“And obviously to keep pushing to help Leeds United to stay
in the Premier League so it could be a great year. I’m confident that we have
the quality to do that.”
I just wondered if you spoke to your father [Niklas] before
coming to English football or even other Swedish ex-players like Tomas Brolin,
Pontus Jansson, people who are well known here at Leeds United. What advice did
you get from those sorts of people and obviously your father having played in
the Premier League?
“Just go for it, I think. For me it’s a dream that I’m
playing here. It’s a dream to come here to play in the Premier League because I
grew up watching the Premier League and my father was here playing in
Blackburn.
