Liam Cooper hails “Bulgarian Busquets” as Ilia Gruev shines in vital Leeds United win over Preston
Leeds United continued their march towards Premier League promotion with a gritty but deserved 2-1 win over Preston North End at a vibrant Elland Road on Saturday, 12 April — a result that not only lifted them back to the top of the Championship table but also served as a timely reminder of the resilience and quality Daniel Farke’s side possess.
After a mini-slump that saw them go three games without a win, Leeds fans had every reason to feel a touch of anxiety creeping into the final stages of the campaign. Automatic promotion, once looking like a near-certainty, was suddenly in the balance. But back-to-back victories — first a commanding win midweek and then this crucial result against a dogged Preston side — have put the Whites firmly back in control of their own destiny with just four fixtures remaining.
While the headlines were rightly dominated by goalscorers Manor Solomon and Jayden Bogle, and the strong late saves from Karl Darlow, one player who quietly ran the show from midfield was Ilia Gruev. The 24-year-old Bulgarian international has increasingly become an unsung hero in this Leeds team, a player whose influence is growing with every 90-minute shift in the engine room.
His performance against Preston, where he not only controlled the midfield tempo but also provided the assist for Solomon’s opener, drew widespread praise. Yet it was a message from a familiar face — former captain Liam Cooper — that perhaps best summed up the appreciation for Gruev’s contributions.
Posting on Instagram after the game, Gruev expressed his delight at helping the team secure another big win. His post was met with praise from teammates like Solomon, Junior Firpo, and Alex Cairns. But Cooper’s comment stood out, calling him the “Bulgarian Busquets” and adding, “Another one ticked off brother.”
It was both a compliment and a nod of recognition from a player who knows exactly what it takes to thrive at Elland Road. Cooper, who spent a decade with Leeds United and captained the club back to the Premier League in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa, understands the expectations and pressure that come with playing in front of 36,000 passionate fans at Elland Road. His comparison to Sergio Busquets — widely considered one of the greatest holding midfielders in football history — might seem a stretch to some, but it highlights just how highly Gruev is regarded among those who know the game.
Gruev’s role in the side isn’t flashy — and perhaps that’s why it often goes under the radar. He doesn’t rack up goals or dramatic assists week in, week out. But what he does bring is control, intelligence, calmness under pressure, and a positional awareness that allows others around him to flourish. It’s no coincidence that Leeds’ dip in form coincided with his absence from the starting XI, and it’s no coincidence that since his return, Leeds have looked far more assured and difficult to break down.
In fact, Leeds failed to win any of the three Championship matches Gruev missed during that recent rough patch. Since returning, they’ve secured two wins from two. That alone speaks volumes. Against Preston, he completed more passes than any other midfielder on the pitch, recovered the ball in key areas, and made several line-breaking deliveries, one of which led directly to Solomon’s well-taken goal. He was the heartbeat of Leeds’ midfield — a conduit between defence and attack.
And it’s not just stats or Cooper’s praise that show how influential Gruev has become — it’s the way he makes those around him better. Ethan Ampadu looks more confident with Gruev beside him. The full-backs push on knowing someone is screening behind. Even the centre-backs benefit from having that extra shield. He’s the glue holding everything together, the metronome setting the tempo.
Signed last summer from Werder Bremen for a modest fee, Gruev arrived with relatively little fanfare. Yet since joining, he has steadily forced his way into the conversation about the best signings of the season in the Championship. In a league often dominated by physicality and chaos, Gruev brings something different — composure, vision, and the ability to slow the game down when needed. It’s exactly the kind of profile Farke has leaned on in title-winning campaigns with Norwich, and it’s paying dividends again.
What also makes Gruev’s rise more impressive is his character. Despite being just 24, he carries himself with maturity beyond his years. He speaks like a leader, plays like one, and has embraced the pressure of playing for a club with promotion expectations. He’s already earned the respect of the dressing room — and, clearly, of club legends like Cooper.
With just four games left in the season, Leeds United find themselves within touching distance of promotion, and potentially even the Championship title. Ipswich Town and Leicester City remain hot on their heels, but the Whites are now in the driver’s seat. To get over the line, they’ll need their best players firing, and Gruev will be right at the centre of that push.
There are tougher tests to come, and no one at Elland Road will be taking anything for granted. But with players like Gruev stepping up when it matters most — shielding the backline, launching attacks, dictating the tempo — Leeds have every reason to believe that the Premier League awaits.
And if he continues to play at this level, the nickname “Bulgarian Busquets” might not just be a joke among teammates — it could be the beginning of a new cult hero status for a player who embodies calm in the chaos of a promotion race.
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