Josuha Guilavogui to have big impact at Leeds United as Zinedine Zidane comparison made
Daniel Farke’s comments about new signing Josuha Guilavogui suggest he could have a key role for Leeds United this season.
Speaking to LeedsLive (13 November), Farke compared the Whites’ recent free transfer to compatriots Claude Makelele and Zinedine Zidane after his second-half display against QPR on 9 November.
Guilavogui only entered the fray in the 85th minute with the game already won at Elland Road, but his frequent forward runs led Farke to acknowledge just how versatile he could be for United this season.
Farke said: “If I’m really honest, even I was a bit surprised because I told him ‘Listen, we see the game out, you hold the centre’.
“The plan was, more or less, to play him a bit like Claude Makelele, but he played a bit more like Zinedine Zidane!
“I loved it, I have to say, but yes, he’s still young, he still can learn. In the defensive situations, he won many important duels and was more lively and more adventurous in going forward than I told him.”
Josuha Guilavogui set to be more than just cover for Leeds United
Guilavogui’s two appearances may have come in the form of late cameos in matches that the Peacocks were already 3-0 and 2-0 up in respectively, but that won’t always be the case as the season continues.
The automatic promotion race is already starting to heat up as the Whites contend with the likes of Sheffield United, Sunderland and Burnley for a top-two place, and a long winter of fixtures to come.
With a run of 23 matches – half a season’s worth – between international breaks in November and March, fatigue, injuries and rotation are surely in the pipeline for almost every Championship team.
Ethan Ampadu and Ilias Gruev’s injuries have seen both ruled out well into the new year, hence the signing of free-agent Guilavogui, and Farke will be wise to ensure non of his players are overworked.
Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka – as good as the pair have been – cannot carry the can alone in midfield, and Farke’s comments suggest that despite a lack of game-time, Guilavogui is ready to step straight in.
In other Leeds news, one of Guilavogui’s fellow recent debutants has been given a boost with a new announcement made.
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