Dominic Matteo believes that Leeds United supporters have yet to witness the full potential of one of Daniel Farke’s signings. However, he notes that this player has been putting in exceptional effort during training sessions since joining Elland Road, striving to improve continuously.
Leeds will face Southampton at Wembley on Sunday, aiming for a spot in the Premier League. This marks their third encounter with Southampton this season, with Leeds having lost both previous matches, both at home and away.
In order to secure a positive outcome against Russell Martin’s team, Leeds will need to adapt their approach, considering that their previous strategies have not proven successful in their encounters with Southampton. While there were mitigating circumstances for both losses, such as incorrect team selection in the first match on the south coast, where Joe Rodon, Archie Gray, and Ilia Gruev were on the bench, Gruev, who joined the team in January, has since demonstrated his talent in midfield.
On Sunday afternoon, he is expected to be among the first players selected for the team, and according to Leeds legend Matteo, he is the one putting in the most effort during training sessions. Matteo believes that despite being a £5 million addition, we have yet to see the player’s true potential.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Matteo suggests that we have yet to witness the full potential of Leeds star Ilia Gruev. The highlight of the season at Elland Road was sparked by Gruev’s swift decision-making and a powerful strike from his left foot, resulting in an impressive free-kick that propelled Leeds to a memorable 4-0 victory over Norwich City.
This marked Gruev’s first goal for Leeds since his transfer from Werder Bremen. It’s worth noting that until the start of the year, Gruev hadn’t had much opportunity to showcase his talents, despite only recently turning 24 earlier this month. Matteo holds a strong admiration for the player.
“On that day, he looked at me with determination, and I believe he truly earned that moment. He’s the one who consistently puts in the most effort on the training ground, striving for improvement and growth. He patiently waited for his opportunity and has become somewhat of an inspiration to me.
He may not dazzle with flashy moves, but he excels at the fundamentals. I’m confident he’ll contribute more goals; he has that capability. We’ve yet to witness his full potential,” explained Matteo.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Gruev’s stunning free-kick, which caught everyone off guard, including Matteo, was a moment of brilliance, demonstrating quick thinking and flawless execution as he swept the ball home from nearly 30 yards past Angus Gunn.
However, there was more strategy involved than what initially appeared to be an impromptu attempt to score. Gruev revealed that he had a conversation with the Leeds assistant coach before taking the free-kick to clarify whether it should be an out-swinger or an in-swinger. Despite this, upon seeing the goalkeeper’s positioning, he made the decision to go for the shot himself. Reflecting on the match, Gruev expressed satisfaction with scoring in such a crucial game and noted the electric atmosphere at Elland Road.