He might be driven around the bend by his flicks in Leeds United’s half of the field, but Daniel Farke has relished this new chapter with Georginio Rutter. The manager has likened the 22-year-old to a young horse, in need of leadership, but unplayable when he’s in moods like Saturday’s.
Rutter’s goal, assist and all-round play was a delight to watch at Elland Road against Valencia. After six goals and 16 assists in the league for the Whites last season, there will be an expectation on all sides Rutter improves in his second year under Farke.
The German sees Rutter as a personal project, a player he wants to work closely with on improving. There are, of course,
We work a lot on his positioning,” he said. “It’s a personal project of myself. I also talk a lot to him in order to improve him, from his feeling for the game, when he can take risks because sometimes you could go crazy as a manager when he does his little flicks in our own half.
“He still a bit sometimes like a young horse who needs a bit of leadership and that everyone takes care of him, but he’s also so precious and so full of potential. Even today, it was like a young horse who was unplayable at times.”
More than Rutter’s playing ability, it is his demeanour and personality that has also made a mark on fans, team-mates and staff alike. The attacker wears his heart on his sleeve, finding it impossible to hide his true feelings, either on the field or in interviews.
