“It’s not easy” – Willy Gnonto opens up on substitute role after key Leeds United contribution

Willy Gnonto insists he is determined to make every opportunity count after delivering another influential appearance off the bench in Leeds United’s 1–1 draw at Brentford on Sunday. The Italian winger has endured a stop-start Premier League campaign due to injuries and tactical changes, but in his last two appearances he has proven he remains one of Daniel Farke’s most dynamic attacking weapons.

Leeds arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium desperate to improve a poor away record and avoid being dragged deeper into the relegation battle. Despite controlling long spells of the match, the visitors fell behind to Jordan Henderson’s strike — a sucker-punch that threatened to derail an otherwise spirited performance. Farke responded with a double change in the 73rd minute, introducing Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson, and the shift proved decisive.

Gnonto quickly injected urgency down the right flank, stretching Brentford’s defensive line and forcing the home side to retreat. His biggest contribution arrived just moments later when he delivered a beautifully-weighted cross for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who rose above two defenders to head home his fourth goal in as many league games. With Leeds staring at another late defeat away from home, the moment proved vital.

It followed Gnonto’s match-changing cameo against Liverpool the previous weekend, when his darting run into the box earned Leeds a penalty. The 22-year-old now has decisive contributions in back-to-back games and believes he must continue that level of impact to challenge for a starting place.

Speaking to LUTV after the match, Gnonto was candid about the competition for places and how he must approach his current role.

“I think it’s easier when you play with a striker like Dom. You just know you have to put it in that area and he’s going to attack it. I thought it was a good ball, but he did a lot of the job and I’m happy for him.”

He admitted life as a substitute is challenging, especially with Leeds improving tactically and stylistically this season.

“It’s not easy. The team is playing well and we have lots of good players. The competition is quite high. But I have to try and use all my chances. I think I did it today. I did it against Liverpool. I just have to keep going like this.”

Gnonto’s attitude reflects a wider message Farke has been preaching about internal competitiveness, particularly after shifting Leeds into a more compact shape that has occasionally left natural wingers out of the starting XI. While his injury issues limited him to just four league starts so far, his sharpness since returning has given Leeds a valuable spark.

In our assessment, Gnonto is doing exactly what managers want from substitutes: changing matches instantly. His directness, low centre of gravity, and timing of runs make him uniquely dangerous against fatigued defences. Although some argue he must prove he can influence games from the start, it’s worth questioning whether his role as a disruptor in the second half may be just as valuable during this phase of the season.

Gnonto’s path back into the starting XI remains challenging. Leeds’ more compact structure has prioritised midfield balance and defensive stability, occasionally at the expense of natural width. Yet his last two showings highlight that Farke may have to find a way to incorporate a player with such clear game-changing ability.

If Gnonto stays fit and maintains this trajectory, Leeds may discover they have a difference-maker just as the relegation battle begins to tighten.

Leeds return to Elland Road on Saturday, 20 December, hosting Crystal Palace in a match that could significantly shape their pre-Christmas momentum. With Gnonto in form and pushing for more minutes, Farke will face a genuine selection dilemma.

👉 Leeds fans — should Gnonto start against Palace, or is he more valuable off the bench?