Players of Leeds United are wrapping up to return to the club following the international break. The Whites are in action this weekend, as they face Fulham in the Premier League.
This week has seen some injury scares involving Joe Rodon, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ilia Gruev. Luckily for Leeeds, Rodon is expected to be fit for this weekend and Gudmundsson shook off his knock. Gruev played the second half of the Georgia game with an injury and will be assessed when he returns to Thorp Arch.
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The Whites are already a few players down heading into the game, as Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu are major doubts. Daniel Farke will have a few headaches when it comes to team selection on Saturday.
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Leeds United star’s national team makes huge decision
Credit: Imago
Ilia Gruev had quite an eventful international break with Bulgaria. Unfortunately, his team lost both games as he featured in all of them. Gruev got in a scuffle with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in an incident off the ball. But after the game, he downplayed the event and praised the youngster.
Bulgarian news outlet Tema Sport reported over the weekend that Ilia Gruev was at the center of a controversy within the national team. According to the report, the midfielder openly criticized both his teammates and head coach Illian Illiev after Bulgaria’s defeat to Spain.
Illiev initially dropped Gruev from the squad for the following match against Georgia. However, the Bulgarian Football Association made the decision to reinstate him. Gruev remained on the bench and was only brought on as a substitute at halftime during Bulgaria’s 3-0 loss to Georgia. Illiev later addressed the situation by downplaying the scandal.
Bulgaria have officially parted ways with the 57-year old after a string of poor results. There has been no mention of if the supposed scandal played a part, but it could be a possibility.
Bulgaria have parted ways with head coach Ilian Iliev following last week’s 3-0 defeats against Spain and Georgia in the World Cup qualifiers
His successor is yet to be announced
Next month’s games: Turkey (h) & Spain (a) pic.twitter.com/VSpRDdeew1
— Metodi_Shumanov (@shumanskoo) September 9, 2025
The National team had only won one game since November 2024. Illia Gruev will now have a new head coach during the next international break in October.
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