Matt Grimes explains why he struggled at Leeds United

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Swansea City captain Matt Grimes has been discussing his spell at Leeds United earlier in his career, and admits he was not in the right place to make a move to Elland Road at the time. 

Grimes joined Leeds in an eye-catching loan move back in the summer of 2016. Garry Monk had previously worked with Grimes at Swansea and brought him to West Yorkshire from the then Premier League Welsh side with much excitement. 

A technically-gifted midfield operator, many felt Grimes had what it took to be a star for Leeds. 

However, he struggled for the Whites. Grimes played just 12 games for the club and failed to have a significant impact when he was on the pitch. 

Speaking to Wales Online this week, he discussed his failed stint as a Leeds United player. He admitted he was perhaps ‘naive’ about the size of the club and confirmed he believed he would immediately become a regular starter for Leeds under the guidance of Monk. 

“But the biggest mistake I made going to Leeds, I thought, ‘I’ve played in the Championship, I’m coming from a Premier League team to a Championship team, I know the manager, Garry Monk at the time, I’m guaranteed to play’…

“I was a little bit naive to the size of club Leeds were. As a youngster at the time, I didn’t realise how big a club it was, and the fan base. I just thought I was going to play every week and get my career going again. But that was my biggest mistake, just thinking it’s all going to happen.”

It was a forgetful period for Grimes and a blemish on Monk’s time as Leeds boss.

Since then, the 24-year-old has turned things around with a strong loan spell at Northampton Town and is now a regular and captain at the Liberty Stadium.

Undoubtedly, some of the lessons Grimes learned from his time at Leeds have surely helped him become the player he is today.