Although Ilia Gruev’s time at Elland Road wasn’t easy to begin with, the Leeds United midfielder claims that the process of getting him to join the team was rather simple.
How Leeds United’s Daniel Farke persuaded Ilia Gruev to sign with them
Late in the summer transfer window of 2023, the midfielder from Bulgaria, who was playing for Werder Bremen in Germany, arrived in Yorkshire.
Gruev’s talents were well known to the German CEO. The previous season, when Farke was Borussia Mönchengladbach’s manager, the two had crossed paths. However, the 47-year-old played it close to the vest, as Gruev revealed to Leeds Live that he was only made aware of Farke’s interest in the summer.
“My agent told me he liked my style of play, but that’s about it—nothing exceptional. We shook hands normally after the two games; nothing remarkable, but I was aware of Gladbach’s style of play, and I found it appealing.
“Then everything happened so quickly, all at once. He stated, “I want you,” over the phone when we were in the summer, and it happened very quickly because we just had two or three days left.”
Moving to the club was an opportunity that Gruev couldn’t pass up since, as he put it, “you don’t know if you will get again this kind of chance.”
The Bulgarian midfielder had spent the majority of his life in Germany and had been with Bremen since he was fifteen. He claimed that the quick connection and relationship he had with his future boss had made the move to Leeds considerably simpler.
Of course it suits me he’s German because we speak German. I grew up in Germany and this was a big part of the decision why I came here.”
It hasn’t all been easy for the 23-year-old though. Throughout the first half of the season, he struggled to get into the starting XI, and he let his frustrations about that be known.
Ilia Gruev’s struggles with lack of game time
“I knew, sooner or later, I would get my chance and when I get my chance I have to be there, I have to be prepared, I have to be fit and strong,” said the midfielder. That’s the type of attitude you want from all your players. He had to wait a while for his first real chance. His first league start for the club came in late October, nearly two months after he’d joined Leeds. The whole squad wasn’t up to it on the night, and he wouldn’t be on the pitch for the first kick of a game until the club’s final game of 2023.
Now, that patience has paid off. Even while it caused the 23-year-old a great deal of frustration, their patience has paid off, as he has established himself as one of Farke’s two starting center midfielders.
The midfielder told Leeds Live, “I had some good performances and I knew I had to be patient, but it wasn’t so easy.” “You may wonder, ‘Why am I not playing?’ when you are at home. I want to play more and show off, but being a football player is a profession.
It isn’t always going to be that way. There are times when you can’t play or can’t play very well, but you have to keep going, put in a lot of effort, and seize the opportunity when it presents itself.”
One of Daniel Farke’s strongest qualities has been his ability to manage men.
The start of Leeds’ season stands in stark contrast to the current situation. Until the end of the current, and last, international break, they will remain at the top of the league.
At the beginning of the season, Gruev’s signing appeared to be a bit of a mystery. Archie Gray had emerged as a notable young talent, and they had already brought in Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara. Wilfried Gnonto and Charlie Cresswell, who have both expressed a desire to leave the team at some time this season, also have well-documented problems.
However, Farke deserves credit for getting them all fully committed and incorporated into the team. This season has been crucial for Gruev and Gnonto in particular, and that wouldn’t have happened if the 47-year-old hadn’t been able to turn them around and return to their previous heights.
