Sport nationLeeds United manager Daniel Farke is buzzing with excitement after the return of Ilia Gruev to the starting lineup in their game against Coventry City over the weekend. Gruev, who has been out with an ankle setback, is expected to keep his place in the starting eleven for their upcoming match against Sunderland.
Leeds United is currently in a tight race for promotion to the Premier League, with only a few games left in the season. They are in third place, just two points behind leaders Leicester City and one point behind second-place Ipswich Town. With such a narrow deficit, every game is crucial, and dropping points against Sunderland could be detrimental to their chances of promotion.
The form of the teams in the top three has been incredibly hard to come out on top of, making it even more important for Leeds to secure a win against Sunderland. Gruev’s return to the starting lineup is a significant boost for Leeds, as he provides a natural metronome in possession, able to move the ball around in the first phase of buildup.
Gruev’s absence was felt in the midfield during the Watford and Hull games, where Leeds lacked someone who could sit at the base of the midfield and move things along nicely. Gruev’s role is not to pick locks with superb long passes like Kalvin Phillips under Bielsa, but to simply show for the ball from the back four and move it along to beat the first line of the opposition press.
Gruev’s return to the side has given Leeds a more secure possession game, as seen against Coventry. However, the physicality of the game was something that Leeds struggled with, particularly Gruev and Kamara. Against Sunderland, who are not as aggressive a side, Gruev and Leeds are expected to benefit.
In addition to Gruev’s return, Leeds also received a boost with the unexpected return of injured trio Ilia Gruev, Connor Roberts, and Willy Gnonto to the squad. All three featured in the game against Coventry, with Gruev starting and managing just over an hour after coming back from duty. Daniel Farke’s press conference revealed that all three should be ready to start, with Gruev coming through without any issues.
Farke expressed his relief at Gruev’s return, stating that they had already suffered several setbacks in terms of injuries during the season. He mentioned Pascal Struijk, who they played the last 25 games without, and who was more or less their captain on the pitch. Farke hopes that they have a bit of luck in the run-in and that if they have this group together, they can get important results.
Leeds fans will be hoping that Gruev’s return and the return of the injured trio will give them the boost they need to secure a win against Sunderland and keep their promotion hopes alive. With only five games left in the season, every point is crucial, and Leeds cannot afford to drop any.
In conclusion, Leeds United’s promotion hopes received a significant boost with the return of Ilia Gruev to the starting lineup. Gruev’s presence in the midfield provides a natural metronome in possession, able to move the ball around in the first phase of buildup. With the form of the teams in the top three being incredibly hard to come out on top of, every game is crucial, and dropping points against Sunderland could be detrimental to their chances of promotion. Leeds fans will be hoping that Gruev’s return and the return of the injured trio will give them the boost they need to secure a win and keep their promotion hopes alive.
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