Exclusive: Second part of Ilia Gruev's exclusive interview with LeedsLive as he breaks down what he is looking for on the pitch as Leeds United's defensive midfielder
Generally lacking in goals, assists or credit for clean sheets, defensive midfielders do not always command the same glitz, glamour and headlines as their team-mates. There have been a few taken into Elland Road hearts down the years and you won’t have to go far for the statue dedicated to the greatest in Leeds United’s history.
“I know this in this position because when you do a good pass, everybody's like ‘Okay, yes, good,’ but if you lose the ball there, it's almost always a big chance for the opponent. I appreciate it a lot that people in the UK are appreciating this position because I know, in Germany, it wasn't like this.
Gruev’s increased match time directly correlates to the team’s upturn in form, from one win in five to 11 wins in 12. The Bulgarian sits, waits and patrols the no man’s land between defence and midfield. So little from the opposition has survived its journey through that trench. “This is very important in this time of football because you have so much good players and if good players have a lot of space and time, then they will punish you.”
“If you don't do it well, they will do a counter-attack and then you have to sprint 70 metres down and then you have to, again, get back to the opposite goal and it's a long way to get there again. If you do it directly, there is a huge advantage for our game.”
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