Leeds United (Credit: Imago)
Daniel Farke has had to make plenty of difficult Leeds United selection decisions this season as the German aims to keep the Whites in the top flight.
Since the switch to the five at the back formation, many players have seen their roles within the squad drastically change, with Leeds not relying on traditional wingers as much.
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Dan James falls into that category, whilst Ao Tanaka has also had his gametime this season cut, with Farke wanting more defensive solidity in his engine room in the form of Ilia Gruev.
However, another Leeds player, who has also had his gametime reduced this season, has made his feelings clear in a recent interview.
Willy Gnonto makes honest Leeds United admission
Gnonto, 22, is another player who has largely been a spectator this season, with the Italian being limited to just four starts in the Premier League.
Speaking in a recent interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, Gnonto claimed that this season has been a “disappointing” one for him on a personal level.
“I always have high expectations for myself, but obviously, I wanted to play more. I wanted to help the team more, and I feel like it wasn’t really possible. But we have seven, eight games left, and I want to just try and help the team as much as I can, and hopefully be on the pitch as much as I can, too.”
Gnonto continued: “I think everyone can (play a big role), we don’t have too many games left, everyone is in a pretty good position. Everyone is fit, well, most of the team is fit, and whoever gets a chance has to go and help the team. It’s not about whoever does it, but we feel like everyone is ready, and we are fully confident that we can do it.”
However, with Gnonto’s last start in the league coming back in November, it seems unlikely that the Italian will be able to force his way into the starting XI from now until the end of the season.
Perhaps even more concerning for Gnonto is the fact that he was left on the bench in Leeds’ FA Cup quarter-final tie with West Ham. The winger had been a regular in the competition until that point, but the fact that he was relegated back to the bench when Leeds faced Premier League opposition shows how Farke truly views the youngster.
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Data suggests Willy Gnonto was lively against West Ham
Perhaps the winger’s lively cameo against West Ham will be enough for Farke to hand Gnonto some more minutes from the bench at least, with the youngster being a valuable weapon, especially when Leeds are chasing a game.
His weight of pass, crossing and ability to quickly get a shot off make Gnonto a real threat offensively, however Farke tends to deploy Brenden Aaronson instead of the Italian for his pressing and work off the ball.
Gnonto played a total of 51 minutes against West Ham after replacing Okafor in the 69th minute
Gnonto had three shots in the game, with two of them being classed as big chances
The only dribble he attempted was successful, and defensively, he was spectacular, winning eight out of the nine duels he contested (Sofascore)
For a player of Gnonto’s ability, to be on the bench so often is a travesty, and if he does not get the gametime he is looking for at United between now and the end of the season, he may need to have a conversation with Farke regarding his future in West Yorkshire.
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