Leeds United manager Daniel Farke looks on during a pre-season friendly (Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images)
Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev has found himself at the center of headlines in Bulgaria after reports suggested he sparked controversy in the national team camp.
According to Bulgarian outlet Tema Sport, the 25-year-old reportedly delivered strong criticism of both his teammates and head coach Illian Illiev following Bulgaria’s 3-0 defeat against Spain.
The claims suggested that Gruev’s words unsettled the squad and led to his exclusion from the matchday lineup against Georgia. However, the Bulgarian Football Association reportedly stepped in, insisting he remain part of the squad.
Illiev ultimately kept the Leeds man on the bench but introduced him at halftime in the 3-0 loss to Georgia.
Addressing the controversy, Illiev sought to downplay the reports. Speaking to local outlet Fakti, he insisted:
“Let the one who said there was a scandal explain. Do you think that if he had any problems, he would have been in the squad? After his injury, he played one of his strongest matches for the national team.”
The coach further reflected on the challenges of managing under public scrutiny, adding:
“Understand me as you wish. I said what I said. The important thing is that – every profession is difficult, but especially ours is public. Despite the efforts made, you are still the most guilty of something.”
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Leeds United are concerned about Gruev’s fitness
Ilia Gruev of Leeds United (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
While the scandal stole headlines, the bigger concern for Leeds could be Gruev’s fitness. He featured for 45 minutes despite carrying a knock, which suggests the injury is not severe, but he will be assessed upon his return to England.
Manager Daniel Farke now faces a growing headache. Should Gruev be ruled out, Leeds will be desperately short in central midfield.
The German coach has leaned heavily on a compact midfield unit this season, making depth a critical factor in sustaining results.
The big dilemma for Leeds United is, will…
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