Leeds United midfielder exonerated from dressing room ‘rift’ but injury concern re-emerges

Although he reiterated injury concerns in his answer, Bulgaria’s head coach Illian Illiev has taken steps to deny any allegations that Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev has fractured the national team’s dressing room.

Illiev clarified that he substituted Gruev at halftime but kept him out of the starting lineup for Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Georgia in the World Cup qualifier because the 25-year-old had taken a knock. Gruev played the entire forty-five minutes.

Following the 3-0 loss to Spain on Thursday, Gruev reportedly got into a fight with the head coach and was going to be left out of the squad for Georgia until the country’s FA intervened to get him back in. This information was later reported by local sports news agencies.

Illiev tried to put an end to the rumors, according to Fakti, but he later revealed that Gruev was definitely carrying a problem during the international period, as he had alluded to earlier this week.

“Let the one who said there was a scandal explain,” Illiev remarked. As you can see, Ilia participated in the first match and then went on to the second. Physical issues prevented him from starting the game, which is why he was absent. However, he went in and performed admirably.

Do you believe that he would have been in the squad before entering if he had any issues? and to make such an attempt. Because perhaps it was one of his best performances for the national team since his injury?”

Daniel Farke is anticipated to provide an update on Thursday regarding the availability of Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu to play against Fulham following their absences due to knee problems. Gruev would most likely be placed in a 4-3-3 formation with Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff if neither can start.

Gruev’s ability to finish the second half of Sunday’s Bulgarian encounter raises hopes that the midfielder will be healthy following five days off before the trip to Craven Cottage.