Illan Meslier involved in ‘odd’ moment ahead of Leeds United v Oxford United
Graham Smyth has reacted to an “odd” ritual carried out by Illan Meslier ahead of the Leeds United versus Oxford United match.
Meslier started Saturday’s (21 December) Championship clash at Elland Road, which finished in a 4-0 win for the Whites.
As flagged by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Smyth on X [21 December], Meslier did his usual pre-match routine just before kick-off.
He posted: “Teams out. Illan Meslier always comes out of the handshakes and does a practise header, which has always struck me as odd because if he ever has to head the ball something has gone wrong. Catch an imaginary cross, punch away a swirling high ball. Dive to your left. Non?
Illan Meslier gets himself in the zone
Every player has their own pre-match routine, with this a favourite of Meslier’s. Quite why he does it, only he can answer.
As Smyth points out, goalkeepers are not exactly renowned for using their heads to cut out a ball into the box.
Whatever he did, it appeared to work as the Frenchman kept another clean sheet in what was a resounding victory over Oxford.
Meslier has rightly been criticised at times this season, but this was yet another game in which Leeds kept the opposition out.
Quite whether he is Premier League quality is another question, with links to one side seemingly emerging from nowhere.
Leeds really are going all out for automatic promotion this season, spurred on no doubt by last season’s agonising play-off final defeat.
As long as Meslier keeps registering clean sheets, and the attackers fire on all cylinders, there is no reason why the Whites cannot maintain this pace throughout the campaign.
In other Leeds United news, a player has been linked with a move to Wrexham.
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