Phil Hay spots what happened to Willy Gnonto on touchline as Leeds United forward snubbed again v Leicester
Wilfried Gnonto repeatedly warmed up on the touchline as Leeds United drew 1-1 with Leicester City at Elland Road on Tuesday night, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Writing on The Athletic website on Thursday (27 April), Hay reported how Gnonto, 19, eventually gave up as it became apparent that Javi Gracia wasn’t going to bother playing him.
Gnonto has now played just 53 minutes of Leeds’ last five Premier League matches despite being one of the club’s best players this season.
Hay said: “Gnonto warmed up, sat down, warmed up, sat down; on and on until it became clear Gracia had no intention of changing his side in the final 20 minutes, a spell which was consumed by paralysis.”
He added: “Gracia seemed to imply that after sending on Brenden Aaronson for Rodrigo on 68 minutes to try to press Leicester higher up the pitch, he had only one substitution window left and was not quite sure who on the pitch might run out of steam, but the crowd were left with the sense that Leeds were in the thick of a game they realistically had to win, holding back a player who might conceivably win it for them.”
Stubbornness
Gracia’s digging his own grave with his decision on Gnonto because ultimately, the Spaniard’s job is on the line.
If Leeds stay up this season, fans won’t be impressed with the manager holding back one of the best young talents the Premier League has to offer.
They also won’t be impressed with such heavy home defeats to Crystal Palace and Liverpool.
If Leeds go down, obviously Gracia won’t be the manager at Elland Road next season.
So what’s he got to lose?
If he starts playing Gnonto from the start and Leeds stay up comfortably, Gracia’s role at Elland Road could be safe for next season and going forward.
But his stubbornness over the young Italy international is costing him dearly. It’s a no-lose situation to start Gnonto – even if Leeds do lose.
In other Leeds United news, injury expert Ben Dinnery has issued an update on key Whites defender Max Wober ahead of the trip to face Bournemouth on Sunday.