Tony Dorigo baffled by Javi Gracia decision not to use Wilfried Gnonto as Leeds United battle relegation
Tony Dorigo has admitted that he “can’t quite get to grips” with Javi Gracia’s decision to leave Wilfried Gnonto out of the Leeds team recently.
Gnonto hasn’t started a game for the Whites since the 4-2 win over Wolves before the international break, with Leeds winless since that fixture and battling against relegation.
Fans have been calling for his return to the side but Gracia has so far opted against it, leaving the Italian international on the bench against Leicester in the 1-1 draw on Tuesday (25 April) and Dorigo, who often appears on BT Sport, told the Yorkshire Evening Post (27 April) that it’s a “strange” situation.
“Willy Gnonto sitting on the bench is obviously a surprise,” he wrote.
“I can’t quite get to grips with why exactly. That question has been put to the manager and he’s the only one who can answer that.
“There was an injury in the international break, he’s now seemingly fully fit and I suppose we have to understand that there are four very good wide men and interchanging them, depending on who isn’t quite in form, doesn’t really weaken the side.
“But there is no doubt when you look back to when we’ve needed inspiration, Gnonto was willing to provide that so for me it’s a strange one.”
Mental
Imagine being in a situation where you’re desperate to win games and get points on the board, but you’re struggling to score goals while your best attacking player is sitting on the bench just watching the game.
It’s peculiar to say the least, but at least it was explainable immediately after the international break because of his injury scare.
But Gracia has admitted that he is now fully fit, so it’s purely a “tactical” decision to leave him out and one that is consistently back-firing, yet the manager is persisting with it.
With an absolutely massive game against Bournemouth at the weekend in a true relegation six-pointer, Gnonto has to start.
It’s insanity to keep trying to get results without him when we haven’t been able to and there are only five games remaining of the season. We have to switch it up and the team is crying out for his skillset. He must play.
In other Leeds news, Robbie Savage blasted one star and urged the Whites to replace him this summer.