Leeds United star Ilia Gruev has insisted that all of the pressure is on Wolves as the two sides prepare for a crucial Premier League encounter.
The Premier League table currently tells a different story to the lingering sense of unease at Leeds United, as Daniel Farke looks to guide his side to safety this season.
Although Leeds have accumulated four points from four games so far, a record-breaking lack of goals from Farke’s side, along with a disappointing end to the transfer window, means the Whites still have a point to prove at Molineux.
A win would open up a seven-point gap between Leeds and Wolves after just five games and banish the lingering malaise caused by Gabriel Gudmundsson’s heartbreaking own goal against Fulham.
Speaking ahead of the game, Leeds midfielder Ilia Gruev has explained why the pressure is on the home side as Leeds’ attack looks to click into gear at Molineux.
Ilia Gruev ramps up the pressure on Wolves
Speaking in an interview with LUTV, Gruev explained why he believes all of the onus is on Wolves to get a result in the weekend’s clash.
Gruev urged Leeds fans to trust the process in a separate interview earlier this week, and he reiterated his belief that the results would come for Leeds this season.
The Bulgarian international said: “I think generally in every game this is really important for us, but now we know the away game against Wolverhampton is going to be a tough one. A lot of pressure on them at the moment, I think.
“They don’t have a good start. They will try to keep their three points at home. We, of course, want to win there because we want to win or try to win every game in the Premier League, because I think we have the quality to do this.
“Of course, you need to have a good day and you need a little bit of luck sometimes in the game, which is normal, but I have the feeling that we have a good chance to win their three points.”
Gruev remains the last man to score from a free-kick for Leeds United
Despite recruiting a menagerie of giants in the summer transfer window, with Anton Stach, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jaka Bijol all standing above six feet tall, set pieces remain an issue for Leeds.
Leeds’ failure to sign Harry Wilson meant the Whites missed out on the dead-ball specialist Farke so desperately craved, and it is a key factor in their blunt attack this season.
Leeds’ profligacy from dead balls is highlighted by the fact that, according to LUFCData, Gruev remains the last player to score directly from a free kick for Leeds.
That goal came in Leeds’ play-off semi-final win over Norwich at the end of the 2023/24 season. Farke desperately needs to improve this area to help his side find its cutting edge.
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