For the last six Bundesliga matchdays as well as the Pokal match in Paderborn, Ilia Gruev has become one of the first names on the Werder teamsheet. The 22-year-old has stepped up in the absence of other midfielders, and has quickly developed into a key player. “I appreciate the praise from the coach and the club,” said the Bulgaria international during Wednesday’s media duties.
Gruev also helped make himself indispensable due to his ability to adapt to an unfamiliar position. There’s no displacing Christian Groß at number six - but since the 1-1 in Leverkusen, Gruev has grown into a role a few yards further forward. "Actually, I do prefer to play as a six, but I also feel comfortable as an eight. For me, the most important thing is that the coach plays me. It's important for every player to get their minutes and playing both as a six and an eight makes me happy," said the young Werder midfielder, who nevertheless remains modest. "It's only been five or six games. I think you have to keep that in mind."
Of course, not everything has gone perfectly for Gruev either. In the match against SC Freiburg, a misplaced pass almost led to a Werder conceding. "I was lucky that Pavlas saved the situation with a great stop," said Gruev. He added that the team's reaction to mistakes was important. "We are a team that always try to help each other a lot. That’s important." In addition to the team, however, he said he was also helped by his father, who has a lot of football experience and worked at the club between 2019 and 2021. "My father is one of the most important contacts for me. It’s a privilege that he has so many years of experience in the professional game and the help is therefore able to give me.”
