Ilia Gruev ‘becomes Leeds United scapegoat’ despite what happened v Coventry City
Ilia Gruev was one of the best players on the pitch for Leeds United in their 2-0 victory against Coventry, but it still didn’t stop the Bulgarian being singled out for criticism.
The Whites continued their impressive run of form with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Coventry on Wednesday night (5 February).
Daniel Farke’s side extended their advantage at the top of the Championship to five points, with the Whites still in pole position to go on and achieve promotion.
Jayden Bogle received plenty of praise for his performance with Illan Meslier highlighted for his heroics in goal, yet very few picked out Gruev despite his remarkable showing in midfield.
Indeed, plenty on X spent large parts of the match actively trying to find faults in the central midfielder’s game.
Ilia Gruev shines for Leeds United, criticism isn’t warranted
Gruev has had a troubled season at Elland Road, having made just 12 Championship appearances to date, but his showing against Coventry should be praised, not criticised.
The midfielder was subject to plenty of criticism on social media despite actually being one of the best players on the pitch.
According to FotMob, Gruev completed 91 per cent of his 53 attempted passes in the clash, showcasing a remarkable level of composure in his game with three chances created.
Three of those passes were perceived as long balls, with a 100 per cent accuracy.
However, Gruev was active all over the pitch, with his defensive contributions going massively under the radar.
Of the six ground duels he was involved in, he came away with the ball in 83 per cent of them, while winning his only aerial duel in the game.
With 10 defensive actions and eight recoveries, Gruev was busy throughout the clash and played a huge role in silencing Frank Lampard.
Ilia Gruev has a big role to play in promotion race
Ultimately, if the Whites are to achieve promotion, it is going to be a squad effort with contributions from all over the pitch.
While Gruev may not get the goals or assists, his role has evidently gone under the radar, as is often the case in football. Players who excel in the dirty work rarely get the same level of appreciation as those who get the finishing touch or mesmerise with a piece of skill.
The Whites are in an excellent position and continue to pick up points, which can only be a positive. Improvements can certainly be made when it comes to execution in the final third, but as things stand, Leeds are looking good.