Ilia Gruev has explained in his first interview as a Leeds United player on LUTV why he is the perfect partner for Ethan Ampadu in the middle of the park – playing slightly ahead of the Welsh midfielder.
Gruev, 23, joins the club for a fee believed to be north of £5m. It comes after a successful few years at Werder Bremen – where he played regularly in the Bundesliga. He has signed a contract until June 2027.
There is a worry that he is simply too similar to Ampadu. But, Gruev would not be joining the club if he was simply, going to be used as a back-up player. This is a player that played regularly in the Bundesliga.
A first-choice midfielder for his country, too. But, Gruev has answered those calls by explaining that he is not an anchoring holding midfielder – but more of a ball-playing no.6, or even as advanced as an 8.
“I play as a central midfielder. The holding 6, but I can play as an 8 too. I am a strategic player, I like to have the ball, possession, I can transition. Interceptions – that’s the type of player I am,” Gruev said.
Gruev explains why he is the perfect Leeds partner for Ampadu
Gruev is not then, a basic defensive midfielder that has been brought in to compete with Ampadu. But a possession-based midfielder, a deep-lying playmaker that operates best as a no.6, next to an Ampadu.
What Leeds needed was a player, ideally between a 6 and an 8 to go with Ampadu. Archie Gray is too attacking for that role – better off playing in front of Ampadu and whoever partners the Welsh maestro.
Gruev is ideal. Able to get up and down and effect both boxes. It might take him a bit of time to get used to the intensity of the Championship – but there is no doubting his quality. He is perfect for Ampadu.
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