DANIEL FARKE DEFENDS ILIA GRUEV AFTER CRITICISM FOLLOWING LEEDS UNITED’S LOSS TO PORTSMOUTH
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has come to the defense of midfielder Ilia Gruev, who has faced criticism following the team’s 1-0 loss to Portsmouth. Gruev started the game, but struggled to make an impact as Leeds were outplayed by their opponents.
Farke opted to start Gruev in an attempt to combat Portsmouth’s aggressive pressing, but the decision ultimately backfired. However, the Leeds manager was quick to defend his player, highlighting Gruev’s consistent performances since joining the team.
“Since he came into our lineup, Ilia Gruev has been our most consistent player,” Farke said. “He was outstanding for us, defensively and offensively, and controlled our game. Then he sacrificed his body and got injured.”
Farke also pointed out that Gruev has only recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff, and that his rhythm is still not back to normal. Despite this, the Leeds manager was pleased with Gruev’s performance against Portsmouth, describing him as the team’s best midfielder on the day.
Gruev’s presence as a defensive midfielder is useful for Leeds, but it did not pay off against Portsmouth. The team’s loss was largely due to their inability to cope with Portsmouth’s intense pressing, which left Gruev and his midfield partner Ao Tanaka struggling to make an impact.
Looking ahead to Leeds’ next game against Millwall, Farke may consider making changes to his lineup, including potentially dropping Gruev to the bench. However, the Leeds manager’s defense of his player suggests that he still has faith in Gruev’s abilities and is willing to give him time to regain his form.
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