Leeds United’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on February 21 has left manager Daniel Farke frustrated, particularly regarding the declining form of midfielder Ilia Gruev. Despite taking an early lead through an Anton Stach free-kick, Leeds conceded a late equalizer to Tammy Abraham, resulting in a shared point at Villa Park.
Gruev’s Recent Struggle
Just weeks after standout performances against Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, Gruev’s stock has fallen significantly. His defensive output against Villa was a major point of concern:
- Duel Success: Won only 3 out of 10 ground duels and lost all aerial battles.
- Defensive Errors: Completed just one tackle, committed three fouls, and was bypassed by attackers twice.
- Ball Retention: Lost possession seven times and drew criticism from Farke for poor decision-making in the final third.
Potential Squad Shake-up
With a critical fixture against Manchester City approaching on February 28, Farke may be forced to rethink his lineup.
The underwhelming performances of Gruev and Brenden Aaronson have opened the door for Facundo Buonanotte. The Brighton loanee was surprisingly left out of the squad against Villa, but he could be recalled to provide the creative spark Leeds needs to secure their Premier League survival.
