‘I would’: £23m player admits there’s been times when Leeds fans hated him during his spell at Elland Road

Leeds United probably have the most enthusiastic supporters in the Championship.

Leeds fans want to see their team return to the Premier League, therefore Daniel Farke and his team will face criticism for as long as they remain out.

Leeds United’s 2-0 victory over Cardiff City demonstrated this clearly. Though the Bluebirds were terrible, most clubs would have been happy with a clean sheet and a comfortable three points on the road.

Leeds fans booed during the performance due to Ilia Gruev’s excessive backwards passes.

Wilfried Gnonto believes it’s simple to understand Leeds supporters’ expectations, but it applies to everyone inside the club, including the 49ers.

 

Daniel Farke, Manager of Leeds United, hugs Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United after he is substituted during the Sky Bet Championship match between S...

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

Gnonto admits Leeds fans hate during Elland Road career

Gnonto is intimately familiar with the enthusiasm of Leeds fans. His debut season with the club saw him quickly become a fan favourite.

However, his attempts to force a Leeds exodus following relegation strained that relationship, and he has been striving to repair it since.

Gnonto’s superb performance in the summer earned him a new contract at Leeds, despite Everton’s £23 million approach.

In an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Gnonto expressed that while there have been times of fan love and hate, he believes the former has been returned.

He stated, “I love it [the interactions with the fans].” Since I’ve been here, I’ve felt both love and hate at times.

“But I know they love me, and I love them because they have made me feel at home since the first day, and they also care about my family.” Every time I get on the pitch, I make an effort to include their work, running, and passion. I think they can see it in me.

Gnonto back on song for Leeds this season

This time last year, Gnonto was still in the process of fitting back into Leeds. Fans were still divided, and he was not performing as well as he had in the Premier League the previous season.

However, a tranquil summer has helped him to get off to a good start this season, even if the goals and assists column does not yet reflect that.

Gnonto key stats 23/24 vs 24/25

Stats Gnonto 23/24 Gnonto 24/25
Touches per game 31.1 51.3
Succ. dribbles per game 0.8 1.5
Key passes per game 0.6 0.7
Fouled per game 1.5 3
Shots per game 1.3 2.5
Big chances created 5 2

Despite the smaller sample size, Gnonto has improved in almost every significant statistic this season compared to the previous season.

It demonstrates how much more calm he is and what he can do from the left, where he started the first four matches.

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