Ilia Gruev details Leeds United tactical tweak that provides 'huge advantage' over opponents — YEP 22/3/24

-

The Bulgarian has been central to Leeds United's incredible defensive form in 2024.

By Kyle Newbould

Ilia Gruev has provided a crucial insight into the on-pitch work behind Leeds United's incredible defensive record.

Gruev's emergence as a first-team regular at Elland Road has coincided with Leeds enjoying an imperious run of form, closing the gap on Leicester City and eventually usurping them as Championship leaders. The Bulgarian has started 12 of his side's 13-game unbeaten streak and played the full 90 minutes in all but one - he was taken off at 3-0 up against Rotherham in February.

That streak has also included a ridiculous 10 clean sheets and Leeds have not conceded a single Championship goal from open play since the 1-0 defeat at West Brom in December. Gruev has not been the sole reason for his side's defensive strength but the Bulgarian, along with centre-backs Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu, has mastered the art of keeping teams out and owes it to maintaining focus when his side are attacking.

“When Cree [Summerville] has the ball on the wing or DJ [Dan James] or Willy [Gnonto] or Jaidon [Anthony], I know we're going to do a cross or going to play a risky ball or shoot and then I know my tasks aren’t any more to watch the ball,” Gruev told Leeds Live. “My task is then to watch their striker or their offensive midfielder and to be very close to him, so if something happened, we're close, we can get the ball as quickly as possible back and I can play again to those guys and we can create something.

“This is very important in this time of football because you have so much good players and if good players have a lot of space and time, then they will punish you. When the ball is in these areas, where I know it's going to get dangerous for the opponent, I watch Ampa [Ethan Ampadu] or Joe [Rodon], they watch me, we talk and then we organise: ‘You take him, I take him, we play two against three, we are good, move up.

“This is crucial for our game because when you lose it, you have a direct opponent and direct pressure again. If you don't do it well, they will do a counter-attack and then you have to sprint 70 metres down and then you have to, again, get back to the opposite goal and it's a long way to get there again. If you do it directly, there is a huge advantage for our game.”

Such has been Gruev’s form in midfield that Ampadu’s presence has not been missed, with the Welshman dropping into central defence. It was Ampadu’s ever-presence that restricted minutes for the £4m summer arrival but with Pascal Struijk injured, doors opened and even the Dutchman’s return could not deter Daniel Farke from changing things up.

Gruev came second in Bulgaria’s 2023 Player of the Year earlier this week and upon receiving the award, made clear his desire to win promotion with the Whites. "I hope that next season I’ll be playing in the world’s best league, the Premier League," the midfielder said while receiving his award.

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more