Ilia Gruev, the Bulgarian midfielder, has been thrust back into the starting lineup for Leeds United following Ethan Ampadu’s injury at Elland Road, marking a return to regular Premier League action with some concerns surrounding his performances and behavior on the field.
Since his arrival at Leeds, Gruev has experienced varying degrees of involvement in Daniel Farke’s starting XI, but has maintained a consistent presence in the Bulgarian national team. During the recent international break, he featured in Bulgaria’s match against Spain, despite suffering a 3-0 defeat to the former World Champions.
However, Gruev found himself embroiled in controversy during the game when an off-the-ball incident involving Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal led to a minor altercation. The incident, where Gruev appeared to kick Yamal after the ball had gone out of play, went unnoticed by the on-field officials and was left unpunished.
Former FIFA and UEFA referee Keith Hackett speculated that UEFA might investigate the incident if it is brought to the attention of the match delegate, although he expressed doubts about the likelihood of immediate action given the officials’ handling of the situation on the pitch.
With concerns mounting over potential bans for Gruev and the fitness of other key players such as Joe Rodon and Gabriel Gudmundsson, Daniel Farke faces the task of navigating potential absences in his squad ahead of Leeds’ return to Premier League action. The manager will be keen to avoid any further setbacks and disruptions to his team’s performance, especially following a challenging end to the summer transfer window.
As Leeds United look to strengthen their position in the Premier League, Farke will need to manage the situation carefully to ensure the team remains competitive and can bounce back from recent setbacks on both the domestic and international fronts.
