Exclusive interview 

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Premier League newcomers Leeds United are having a solid season and will play in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday for the first time since 1987. At the heart of it all is Bulgarian international Ilia Gruev, who has become increasingly important in the Peacocks’ midfield as the season has progressed. In an interview with Transfermarkt, the 25-year-old talks about his first season in the Premier League, his move to England, and his hopes of becoming a legend at Leeds United.

“The FA Cup is one of the most prestigious competitions, and the fact that we’re now in the semi-finals makes us very proud. It’s a bonus because nobody expected it, but we’re happy to take it. Sometimes you have a cup run like this, and we want to build on that. We’re the underdogs against Chelsea, but why not?” says Gruev ahead of Saturday’s clash. “Our performances over the last few months make me very optimistic. We’re very well-equipped in terms of both quality and quantity and have excellent depth in the squad. On top of that, we’re in good form, and it’s always a tough game against us. We’ll show that against Chelsea too.”

In the league, Leeds have twice held their own against the Club World Cup winners, winning the first leg at Elland Road 3-1 and securing a point with a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. On their way to their first semi-final since 1987, Daniel Farke’s side defeated Derby County (3-1), Birmingham (5–3 on penalties), Norwich (3–0) and West Ham (6–4 on penalties). “At the end of the day, we play this sport to make history and win titles. With two wins, we’d become legends; that’s a massive opportunity. When you’re in the semi-finals, you want to win, even if you’re the underdogs. How often do you get the chance to win a title in England? Nobody can take away our dream of a major title with this club,” explained Gruev, whose focus, however, lies on the league. “If I have to choose, I’ll take staying up, because that’s the clear priority. And everyone at the club knows that. The FA Cup is a bonus.” The other semi-final will be contested by Manchester City and Championship side Southampton.

Gruev: “Everyone here knows it’s the best league”

Last summer, Leeds returned to the Premier League after a two-year absence – Gruev played his part as a regular starter. With the exception of a knee operation that sidelined him between October 2024 and January 2025, the Bulgarian was a regular for much of the season. “The pace, especially in your head, is completely different; every little detail counts. It’s just different again when you go to Anfield Road or Old Trafford. The quality of the players is simply incredible. And that’s the case every week. There are no easy games,” explains Gruev. “Without wishing to take anything away from the other top leagues, the pace is different. The whole atmosphere is different too. Everyone here knows it’s the best league because there’s simply the most money available, which makes it easier to sign a player.”

With five matchdays remaining, Leeds have 39 points to their name; the gap to Tottenham, who occupy the first relegation spot, is eight points, which puts Gruev in a positive frame of mind. “If someone had told us the current league position before the season, we would have taken it straight away. We’re having a very solid season, showing that we’re competitive, and doing very well. It’s tough to play against us, which we’ve also proven against the top teams. That’s encouraging and gives us confidence. You can tell because you can simply see that you can pick up points in every game – no matter who you’re up against.” Leeds drew twice against reigning champions Liverpool, and picked up four points each against Manchester United and Chelsea. “We’re satisfied with the points haul, but it has to be said that, given the way we play, we deserved even more points. There were a few games where we conceded unfortunate goals; with a bit more luck, things could have looked very different.”

Leeds picked up 26 of their 39 points at their home ground, Elland Road, losing just five home matches. “Our fans are outstanding, the atmosphere is brilliant, and it’s simply a joy to play at Elland Road. After the win against Manchester United, you could really see what it means to the fans. You go for a walk, and people have a smile on their face when they see you; they thank you. The club means an incredible amount to the people of Leeds. The home record underlines that the fans push you on here week in, week out,” says Gruev.

In the Premier League, Gruev goes head-to-head with the world’s best players every week, but some have presented him with particular challenges. “When we played Man City at home, I was up against Rayan Cherki – a top player. He’s two-footed; you never know what he’s going to do. He’s got so many brilliant moves. But Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi at Arsenal, or Rodri at Man City, are incredible too. The quality is so high and it’s brilliant that I can have these experiences, because it automatically makes you better.”

Gruev is becoming more important as the season progresses

Gruev has made 23 appearances in the Premier League, 15 of them in the starting line-up. Between early September and late November, the 27-time international went through a difficult spell, sitting on the bench for 90 minutes on seven occasions and making just two brief appearances. Since the start of the year, Gruev has started 11 times. With captain Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Sean Longstaff, and Ao Tanaka, competition in central midfield is fierce. “My development is on an upward trajectory. At the start, I didn’t play as much as I’d hoped, but with such a strong squad, it’s simply part of the game that there will be times when you don’t get the playing time you’d like. With the change in system, I’ve been getting more minutes, and I can feel that I’m taking a step forward. I’m happy with my progress because I’ve always taken small steps rather than big leaps, and I want to keep going that way,” he explains.

From matchday 14 onwards, Farke changed his system and switched from a back four to a back three, which gave the team significantly more confidence. As a result, Leeds went seven games unbeaten and picked up vital points in the battle to avoid relegation. “We have a very good relationship, and Daniel trusts me a lot, just as the team trusts the manager. He’s had three very successful years here and is truly a very good manager. You can tell that from the way he prepares us for matches. We always want to have the ball and be dominant, but we’re also flexible and can sit deeper. That’s what sets a good manager apart. The club has made great progress in the three years under Daniel, and so far it’s been an absolute success story,” says Gruev, praising his manager.

Speaking of his midfield partner Stach, who is fighting for a place in the German national team for the World Cup, Gruev says: “Playing alongside Anton is very easy because he’s a player who thinks for himself. Anton is a very good player who makes everything look effortless. Of course, you’re also dependent on the quality of your teammates. When you’ve seen the goals Anton has scored and the assists he’s provided, you can see just how good he is. I’m really happy for him; he deserves to be at the World Cup, and of course we’re delighted for every teammate who’s there.”

Gruev on his move to Leeds: “It was anything but an easy decision”

In August 2023, shortly before the transfer window closed, Gruev moved from Werder Bremen to Leeds for €6.5 million; Leeds had been relegated to the second-tier Championship at the time. “It was, of course, under time pressure because the transfer window was only open for a few more days, but Leeds presented me with a clear plan and the phone call with Daniel was very promising. He showed me what kind of project is taking shape at Leeds. And then, of course, there was the dream of the Premier League with a traditional club like Leeds. Looking back, it was a very good decision and everything has worked out here,” he sums up.

Gruev had celebrated promotion to the Bundesliga with Werder the previous year, had made 31 appearances that season, and was on his way to becoming a regular. “The move was anything but easy for me because I’d played for Werder for eight years. I was promoted to Werder and played my first Bundesliga season. But I was open to a new challenge, and when the offer from Leeds came, it was a very exciting opportunity,” says Gruev, who joined Werder’s youth team in 2015 and had been part of the first-team squad since 2019. “I’ve also seen how positively Werder has developed, but I felt so much trust from Leeds and then decided to go down this path. I still look back fondly on that time because I turned professional there and still have many friends there. But in football, you sometimes have to make decisions like this, and things happen very quickly.”

Since his move, Gruev’s market value has risen from €3 million to €12 million. Since the summer, it has increased by €7 million. His contract with Leeds runs until 2027, but he isn’t thinking of leaving. “I feel very much at home here and can see how the club is developing. The long-term plan is to become a top-10 team in the Premier League. If you can be part of that journey as a player and compete against the elite every week, that’s an absolute success. The fans also see which players have been here for how long and are happy about those who’ve been here from the start.” The focus, however, is on the final stretch of the season and the upcoming FA Cup semi-final. “A brilliant headline would be ‘Sensational! Leeds win the FA Cup!’ Then we’d be playing in the Europa League next year, which would be amazing, and winning a title here would make you a legend,” replies Gruev when asked what football headline he’d like to read in 2026.

Interview: Jannek Ringen