Leeds fell to a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park last night in a game the Whites’ will rue not taking their chances and sloppy defensive errors. Jesse Marsch’s side had passages of good play, but overall it was a tough watch for fans. There’s a strong argument that 19 year old Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto was the most exciting player on the pitch from either side, and Gary Neville wouldn’t be far off agreeing with that.
Its rare you’ll see a positive article about a Manchester United legend on a Leeds website – to the point that I feel like its a taboo for me to even write this. But after enduring watching Leeds lose to Villa, I think its fair to say one of the most enjoyable parts of the game was listening to Gary Neville’s commentary of Wilfried Gnonto on Sky Sports’ coverage of the clash.
As a Leeds fan, it feels like Gnonto has been the Premier League’s best kept secret since he came off the bench at Anfield back in October and sparked the move that led to Crysencio Summerville’s borderline-historic winner. That’s not to say there was zero awareness of Gnonto’s ability – Italian national team manager Roberto Mancini has previously declared that the youngster could ‘become devastating‘, making a bold projection about the teenager who he has already given 8 caps to in his Italy side [via Football Italia].
Neville detailed his excitement that he’d be seeing Gnonto live for the first time in Sky’s pre-game discussions, and the winger did not disappoint the former Treble-winning defender.
Gary Neville seems to love Gnonto more than I love my kids. #MOT
— Rich Williams (@itsrichwilliams) January 13, 2023
Gnonto showed his quality in his build-up play for Patrick Bamford’s goal, when he picked the ball up on the left flank after he got the better of a jostle with veteran Ashley Young. The tricky winger was able to keep the ball in play and beat Villa defender Sanson, before picking out Bamford for the returning striker’s first goal in over a year.
Neville on commentary reminded Leeds fans just what a talent they have at their club:
“Gnonto, you little beauty you are. Ashley Young is wise but he gets done by the youngster – holds his body, uses his strength, and then they get back at him but he rolls him (Sanson), rolls him (Konsa), then the best bit – composure, class at the end. The final part that so many young players don’t get right.”
He heaped praise on the Leeds man all throughout the game, stating that he knows a good left winger when he sees one from his playing days. In particular, Neville was almost dumbfounded at how well Gnonto could read the game at such a young age, and at how high his level of understanding of his position is.
We discussed how Willy Gnonto has been one of the most exciting stories of Leeds’ season to date here on Vital Leeds a couple of weeks ago, and the Italian winger is showing zero signs of slowing down. Its still difficult to believe that we paid under £4 million for him as a deadline day signing in the current football market. It really was an excellent piece of business by the club.
It hasn’t been the easiest time to be a Leeds fan lately, and there’s plenty of reactions and chatter about what could and should happen. But with Gnonto surely nailing down his starting place, Luis Sinisterra supposedly set to return to the first-team sooner rather than later, and the signing of Georginio Rutter imminent, there is hope that Leeds can start converting more and creating more for the likes of Rodrigo and Bamford.
The tables not looking too pretty this weekend, but plenty of football to come. Fingers crossed our little beauty can continue the great form and help us put some wins together.