Javi Gracia has told Monday’s press conference – as per the club’s YouTube – that Leeds United star Illan Meslier remains positive despite criticism coming in for the Frenchman. He says that the team need to defend better, too.
Meslier, 23, has come in for criticism of late after mistakes in the 6-1 loss to Liverpool and then, being at fault for both of Fulham’s goals on Saturday at Craven Cottage. He palmed two crosses to Fulham players, who scored.
Indeed, the second goal is a real howler from Meslier, who palms a cross straight into Andreas Pereira to score the goal that ended up being a winner. It was the 18th goal that Meslier has conceded since the international break.
Gracia was asked about Meslier in his press conference. He claims that the team needs to defend better in order to help Meslier, and that the goalkeeper is still remaining upbeat and positive, and performing well behind the scenes.
“Illan is well, he trains well. A very good character, always trying to improve like the rest. We are conceding a lot of goals, we need to do better but it’s not only about him. If we defend better, then Illan will play better,” Gracia said.
Javi Gracia: Leeds star Illan Meslier remains positive despite criticism
Meslier has been a key part of this Leeds side for a number of years now, our entire spell back in the Premier League and he has been relied upon time after time, to get Leeds out of the mud. But where do Leeds go, with Meslier?
Joe Cole believes Leeds should drop him. Joel Robles is a more-experienced member of the team and it might help the defence having a bigger presence in between the sticks – even if his shot-stopping and passing isn’t as strong.
But, it would also open up the chance of disrupting the chemistry of the defence. A really tricky one for Gracia to decide on but perhaps, it is time for a change simply to take Meslier out of the firing line over the next few games.
