Leeds United enters Friday night’s critical showdown against Leicester City on the back of an eight-game unbeaten streak.
The Whites have a perfect record since the New Year, and 2024 has undoubtedly been the year for some of the fringe players to shine after a rough first half of the season.
Ilia Gruev has made his imprint on the club, starting the last ten matches in all competitions in place of the injured Pascal Struijk, with Ethan Ampadu moving to centre-back.
Struijk was a key player under Daniel Farke until he sustained an injury during the Boxing Day loss to Preston North End, and his absence has undoubtedly been longer than anticipated.
In his pre-match press conference, Farke stated that Ampadu and Gruev have both played admirably to fill the vacuum left by the ‘excellent’ injured Struijk.
Farke praised Gruev and Ampadu.
He said: “They were crucial in their positions during this period, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Ethan was fantastic in the holding midfielder role.” Pascal was great when he was fit, and Ethan played higher up the pitch. Nothing should be taken away from Ilia’s or Ethan’s performances.
“I believe that our efforts on the training pitch have contributed significantly to our general consistency. Small subtleties and a few percentage points can make a significant impact in football. The longer we work against the ball, the more we need to remain compact and defend set pieces properly.
“The more time we spend together, the easier it is to improve.” Similarly, in possession and with the ball. It is beneficial to maintain consistency and avoid making too many adjustments.
Gruev’s skill was unknown to everyone after starting only two games in his first four months with Leeds, but not anymore.
The 23-year-old has been fantastic since moving into midfield, and he has surely made Ampadu’s return to defence easier, despite his own excellent performance. Leeds have conceded only one goal in eight games.
Farke received excellent news on Struijk’s injury earlier today, and when he returns, he will undoubtedly face a difficult decision as to who will start.
