Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has shared the reason why he did not include Wilfried Gnonto in the starting line-up against Swansea City.
Head coach Farke made two changes to his Leeds team for the Championship match at the Swansea.com Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Joel Piroe came in for Mateo Joseph. Farke also decided to put Dan James on the right wing. Gnonto dropped to the bench.
Manor Solomon scored two for Leeds against Swansea, but he had been struggling until now.
Gnonto dropped for Leeds vs Swansea to take ‘weight off him’
You would have expected James to come in for Solomon against the Swans, but it was Gnonto who was dropped from the team.
It was the first time that Gnonto had not been part of the starting line-up for Leeds in a Championship game. The winger came on as a substitute for Solomon in the 75th minute. The Italian youngster scored the winner in injury time.
After the game, Farke revealed why he decided to drop Gnonto, adding that the winger took the decision in the right spirit and responded positively by scoring.
Farke said, as quoted in LeedsLive: “Gnonto, eight games without a goal, leave him on the bench takes the weight off him and then he scores. Up to the players to deliver. Manor and Willy excellent. Compliments to them.
Wilfried Gnonto’s game in numbers
Gnonto was not on the pitch for long, but it was his goal that proved to be the difference between Swansea and Leeds in the end.
The winger will have been disappointed not to start against the Swans, but you have to give him credit for the way he took it in his stride and did not let it affect him when he came on.
During his short period on the pitch against Swansea, Gnonto took one shot which ended in a goal, had a pass accuracy of 66.7%, and took eight touches.
Gnonto has scored three goals and provided five assists in 15 starts and one substitute appearance in the Championship for Leeds this season.
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