An impactful decision was made regarding Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev amidst a devastating international defeat for Bulgaria over the weekend. Gruev, one of eight Leeds players involved in senior international duties, found himself at the center of attention as new Bulgaria manager Aleksandar Dimitrov opted to relegate the experienced Whites midfielder to the bench for his debut match in charge.
In a crucial World Cup qualifier against Turkey, Dimitrov opted for a midfield pairing of Kristiyan Stoyanov from Slavia Sofia and Andrian Kraev from Hapoel Tev Aviv, leaving Gruev as a substitute. Despite taking an early lead through Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, Bulgaria quickly found themselves on the backfoot as Levski Sofia’s Radoslav Kirilov secured an equalizer just minutes later.
The halftime break saw the teams deadlocked at 1-1, but the second half turned into a nightmare for the hosts as they conceded goals and found themselves trailing 5-1 with just over 65 minutes played. As the pressure mounted, Dimitrov made tactical substitutions, yet Gruev remained unused on the bench, watching the disappointing 6-1 loss unfold. Both Stoyanov and Kraev completed the full match, while Gruev had to settle for a spectator role.
The Bulgarian media did not shy away from criticizing the team’s performance and the humiliating defeat, labeling it as “shameful” and a “disgrace.” This crushing loss has left Bulgaria languishing at the bottom of their group, without a single point from three games, effectively diminishing their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
The outcome of this match not only highlights the challenges faced by the Bulgarian national team but also raises questions about the management decisions regarding players like Gruev, who could have potentially contributed to altering the course of the game. As the team grapples with the aftermath of this crushing defeat, it remains to be seen how they will regroup and attempt to salvage their World Cup qualifying campaign.
