‘Incredibly intelligent’: Jesse Marsch has been so impressed with £3.8m Leeds player, he keeps getting better

Sun 6 November 2022 12:15, UK

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has admitted he’s been so impressed with young forward Wilfried Gnonto.

Gnonto was a half-time substitute for Leeds after a poor start to the game.

The young Italian replaced Jack Harrison, and saw his side immediately concede again.

However, the Whites produced a phenomenal second-half comeback to earn a valuable three points.

It’s a result that catapults Leeds up the table to 12^th, and two points above yesterday’s opponents.

Gnonto’s made a noticeable contribution throughout the game before producing a moment of magic that decided the game.

The 19-year-old picked up the ball just outside his own box with the scores level at 3-3.

He drove forward, keeping his balance after a push from Marcos Senesi, before wrong-footing Jack Stacey.

Gnonto then intersected two Bournemouth defenders with a perfectly weighted pass that Crysencio Summerville duly slotted home.

The goal sent Elland Road mad, and the young forwards embraced after winning a match they look certain to lose half an hour before.

Marsch praised Gnonto’s intelligence after the match and was thoroughly impressed with forward.

Marsch impressed with Gnonto

The American was full of praise Leeds’ final signing of the summer transfer window after the match.

“Willy continues to grow in our group, and I think that people see that he has talent and quality, but also real intelligence on the pitch,”

“So, for a young man he’s incredibly intelligent, so he helped the game as well.”

has settled into life at Elland Road quickly, after a number of brilliant performances for the under-21s.

It shows just how much he’s come in those months that Gnonto’s now impressing Marsch in the league.

His footballing intelligence is something Marsch especially praised, and his assist yesterday perfectly summed that up.

He’s also capable of playing a number of roles across the front line, an impressive feat for a teenager.

Leeds fans will be hoping they get to see an awful lot more of Gnonto in the weeks, months and years to come.