Rutter on 'tough' return to former club Leeds
- Published
Ahead of his return to Elland Road, Brighton forward Georginio Rutter spoke to BBC Radio Sussex about his time at former club Leeds.
"Elland Road was special for me, to go back there is special," Rutter explained.
"It's tough. It's the first time in my life that I am going to play against my ex-team there so it is special but like I say, it's football.
"I have to deal with it but it is going to be tough. I know some friends there but they stay up, it's guaranteed so it's alright. I thought the worst scenario was if they were struggling and we play against them and beat them but now it's fine."
Rutter joined the Whites for a club record fee in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £36m before leaving to join Brighton for another club record fee of £40m in August 2024.
He feels he had an "unbelievable" connection with Leeds' fans, adding: "I think the fans there and me were very connected. I like to play football, I enjoy, I try to be friends with everybody and I think the fans like it so it is going to be special.
"I wait for a great welcome because I didn't leave in a bad picture and even now they are happy because every time I score it was against West Ham, Burnley and Tottenham so they were happy."
Rutter gave his thoughts on the Leeds squad and the job manager Daniel Farke has done: "It was a tough beginning of the season but he changed this in January. Tactically everybody was saying maybe the wrong choice but they did very good and they didn't lose many games so it is going to be tough. The crowd as well there in the stadium is very hard."
He added that Brighton will have to "be patient" and "don't think about the crowd" if they are to get a result on a tricky trip to Elland Road.
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