Gjanni Alioski in no mood for messing as he delivers Leeds United home truths to youngsters

Gjanni Alioski was not playing when he sat down to face questions after Leeds United’s Carabao Cup exit.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The winger is the club’s clown prince, a prankster whose unique personality has made him a cult figure.

He never seems happier than when he’s gurning for a camera, shaking a tunnel or getting a team-mate in a headlock and ruffling their hair.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His words on Wednesday night and his tone suggested that he was more in the mood for giving the club’s youngsters a good shake, as he let loose with a barrage of honest, level-headed wisdom.

Alioski was all business. It was abundantly clear that the sense of loss he felt, on behalf of himself and particularly the younger players in Marcelo Bielsa’s team who lost to Hull City, went deeper than the result and a lack of progression in the Carabao Cup.

“This is a chance to play,” said the international.

“It’s a chance to show to Leeds and for the young players that they want to play, even in the Premier League. These are the opportunities that we now leave. It’s not good. It’s the cup, yes, but it’s important. It’s a trophy. We’ve already left it and even if it is far [to get through], why not? We have to try in everything in every competition. It’s so sad that Leeds go out in the first round. It doesn’t matter who plays.

“It’s not the second team, we are all one team and it’s nice to get minutes to play. This was a chance and it’s one opportunity less for the players who don’t play and for the young ones.”

WISECRACK - Joke Gjanni Alioski had some home truths for the Leeds United youngsters in midweek, ahead of the Fulham game. Pic: Tony JohnsonWISECRACK - Joke Gjanni Alioski had some home truths for the Leeds United youngsters in midweek, ahead of the Fulham game. Pic: Tony Johnson
WISECRACK - Joke Gjanni Alioski had some home truths for the Leeds United youngsters in midweek, ahead of the Fulham game. Pic: Tony Johnson
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Alioski, who endured as frustrating a night in the Carabao Cup as any player in white even if he did grab the goal that forced a penalty shoot-out, wanted more from the side.

He wanted to see what he has seen at Thorp Arch, the ability and the potential Leeds have within the ranks of the Under-23s, but on the pitch at Elland Road in competitive games, when it matters the most.

“The young players they wait to play for the club but when you wear the shirt and we’re in the Premier League and you have the opportunity to play like a young player, you need to eat the grass,” he said.

“They’ve shown in training they are really good but it’s more important to show it when you play.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s a chance to show the manager that they are ready as young players.

“We lost, so it’s one opportunity less to show him. It’s not good. You have more chances to get in the team this way.

“They’re young. They’re going to have a lot of time to show [their potential] but there are little details and moments that you only have one chance and you need to take it.”

The only remedy now is to respond to the defeat in the right way, in training and in the next game, as a club.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For the second time this year, Fulham will come to Elland Road to play Leeds behind closed doors on Saturday.

Alioski scored in the previous meeting, the first played at the stadium without fans owing to the coronavirus pandemic and was caught on camera wandering around at full-time and applauding the ‘crowdies’ that supporters paid to have placed on seats during their absence last season.

This time when Scott Parker brings his fellow newly promoted side to face the Whites, there won’t even be crowdies – the likenesses having been removed during the summer, which will add to Alioski’s sense of loss.

But he wants the Hull defeat to provoke a reaction, regardless of how many midweek starters feature against Fulham – Bielsa will revert to a team much closer resembling the one that lost 4-3 at Liverpool in the Premier League opener which means the responsibility to put right what happened in the cup will simply transfer to those players.

“We have to keep working hard,” said Alioski.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We will be focused now for the Premier League. We have another game on Saturday which it’s important.

“We’re at home but we’re going to feel it a little this [Hull City] game.

“It’s football. We know anything can happen but it hurts us a lot. We need to show a reaction even though at the weekend it will be a different squad with more experienced players.

“We are a team. We are Leeds United.

“We need to show a reaction and we’re going to prepare with Marcelo for this game [against Fulham].

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s the first game in the Premier League at home at Elland Road.

“Without the fans we’ll feel sad but we are so focused and excited for Saturday.”

Come Saturday afternoon Alioski will be all smiles, flicking ears again. Then he and Leeds will be all business once more.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.