Rio Ferdinand: Illan Meslier and Leeds defence have been bullied in the PL
Rio Ferdinand has slammed Illan Meslier and the Leeds United defence before their clash with Chelsea on Saturday.
Leeds have shipped 46 Premier League goals this season, more than rock-bottom Sheffield United, and former Whites defender Ferdinand is seriously unimpressed by their sloppy play and highlighted the 21-year-old for particular criticism.
Appearing on BT Sport 1 [11:30, 13/03/21] before Marcelo Bielsa’s side played Chelsea he said: “There are various reasons why [they are so poor defensively], I think one of them is the goalkeeper.
“Just watch his footwork here [clip v Liverpool], he never gets himself set and by the time he makes the save he’s actually falling into the back of the net and that’s not the place you want to be.
“That’s not good enough as a goalkeeper, he’s obviously been at fault a few times doing that.
“He’s already in the net once the ball’s been headed and his next couple of steps are behind the line, that’s criminal.”
Ferdinand added: “You want someone to be dominant, I don’t think there’s been one dominant centre-half or someone that can attack the ball in this Leeds team, that’s a big issue.
“They’re not dominant at all and are not getting to the ball first, they’re getting bullied out of the way.”
Lay off the Leeds stopper
We think Rio is being a bit too tough on the £16,500 per week [spotrac] stopper.
Meslier is obviously under certain instructions by Bielsa and his goalkeeper coach – it might just take him a little while to get used to it.
He’s young, he will learn. There isn’t a better manager to have watching over you as a young player than Bielsa.
El Loco will give him all the support necessary and at such a tender age that is exactly what he needs.
It is not like the Frenchman has been horrendous either.
According to Wyscout Meslier has prevented 0.15 goals per 90 in the Premier League this season, ranking him seventh in this metric and above the likes of Ederson (Manchester City) and Alisson Becker (Liverpool), two goalkeepers widely regarded as up there in the best in the world.
Meslier has flaws, no doubt, but we’re not sure how going in so hard is beneficial at this stage of his career.
As a former player Rio should know better.
In other Leeds United news, Daniel Farke aims bitter Bielsa jibe.