Ilia Gruev has become Leeds’ new Brenden Aaronson: Is Daniel Farke’s decision warranted?
Ilia Gruev has been a regular in Leeds United’s starting 11 this season.
Brenden Aaronson has been on fire this season, but week after week, his inclusion baffled supporters in the Championship last campaign.
Even when it became evident he was offering very little, Daniel Farke would stick with him, with several high-profile names left out as a result.
This season, Gruev has taken over the role of being named in the starting 11 consistently. But once again, the thought process behind that decision has been questioned.
And the stats show why.
What does Ilia Gruev bring to Leeds United?
Gruev has started 13 games in the Premier League, having made a total of 18 appearances in the top flight this season.
Of those 13 starts, nine of them have come in succession after the injury to Sean Longstaff at the end of December.
Since then, Longstaff has returned, only to find himself on the bench alongside Ao Tanaka, and Gruev’s stats certainly beg the question as to why.
His passing ability is the biggest reason, and with a 90.4 per cent completion rate, that is evident. But his stats outside of that certainly showcase his weaknesses at both ends of the pitch.
Gruev has created just 10 chances this season, demonstrating his lack of influence in the final third for the most part, while also having won just 47 duels in the middle of the park.
The Bulgarian averages 1.86 tackles per game, which places him in the bottom 35 per cent for Premier League midfielders, while also averaging just 36 completed passes per game, which again places him in the bottom 38 per cent of midfielders.
How does Sean Longstaff compare to Gruev?
While the question was asked last season about how Aaronson was keeping the likes of Willy Gnonto out of the team, the same question has to be asked in regard to Gruev and Longstaff this season.
Longstaff has played just 66 minutes of Premier League action since he returned from injury at the start of January, while also having failed to start a game since then in the league.
And as for why, very few will be able to answer that, but his own stats certainly amplify the concern.
Compared to Gruev’s 10 chances created, Longstaff has 22, despite having made one fewer appearance as well as having started three fewer games.
Added to that, Longstaff has won 16 more duels than the Bulgarian, in 166 fewer minutes.
The former Newcastle star is evidently more effective at both ends of the pitch than Gruev, making his recent omission quite the puzzle.
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