BREAKING! Leeds United Star Midfielder Made A Shocking Statement In Pre-season Camp

ILIA GRUEV: IT HAS BEEN LOTS OF HARD WORK

Ilia Gruev is enjoying the Whites’ pre-season camp in Germany, with preparations for the upcoming Sky Bet Championship season stepping up a gear.

Having beaten Harrogate Town away from home last weekend, Daniel Farke’s side then travelled to the continent as the hard work continues, before August’s opener against Portsmouth at Elland Road.

After the first few days out on the training pitches, Bulgarian international Gruev is pleased with the group’s progress in camp.

“It is nice to be back in Germany,” he told LUTV.

“We have good training facilities, the pitches are good and the weather is good. It is nice that the team are together and we are getting better and better as a group.

“It has been lots of hard work. It has been intense which is good. We prepare ourselves the best way we can for the league and I think we are in a good way.

“We have had intense weeks which I think is good for our endurance and everything, so I think this is good.

“We are as a group 24/7 together and we speak about a lot of things, football of course but about other things which are also important to us.

“We have more time to work here together, within video sessions or on the pitch. We have more time which is good for the group.”

The training camp welcomed a number of new faces, after summer signings Alex Cairns, Joe Rothwell and Jayden Bogle joined Joe Rodon in signing for the club, as well as a number of exciting academy players linking up with the squad.

“I think it is easy to settle into our team because the players are very friendly and nice, so I think it is very easy to settle into the group,” the midfielder added.

“The new players that have come to us are also like this and it is very easy for them and for us.

“To be here from the beginning, show yourself in training and in the games and to be prepared with the team is quite important and makes it easier for players.

“I expect like last year with intense games, as 46 games is very long but I expect we will show our quality and be even better than last year.

“Last year was my first time playing in this league and now I know more about it and some other players which is an advantage. It is better to have that experience.

“I am 24 years old and it is nice to not be a young player any more, so I try to help the players who are younger than me and I like to do that.”