Bielsa was impressed by Casilla in Leeds win v Southampton
Marcelo Bielsa was impressed by Kiko Casilla as Leeds United beat Southampton on Tuesday night, according to LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross.
Cross reports that Bielsa shouted “very good” at Casilla when he triggered a counter-attack with some quick thinking after Leeds had gone 2-0 up.
Casilla drove the ball forward down the right channel to Raphinha, which prompted Bielsa to give the goalkeeper the thumbs up and some words of encouragement.
Still not enough to sway us
Casilla will have to make a match-winning penalty save to win Leeds the FA Cup in order to come close to winning us back over.
The former Real Madrid goalkeeper is one of the luckiest players in the world.
Last season, he was found to have racially abused Jonathan Leko yet Bielsa and Leeds stood by him, didn’t get rid of him, he was handed the captain’s armband for a game and also played a couple of times in the Premier League.
It’s funny how he’s had nothing but rewards since serving a pitiful eight-match ban for racism.
Casilla’s not only had that but he’s also been a thoroughly awful goalkeeper for the Whites.
He pretty much cost us the play-off semi-final against Derby in Bielsa’s first season at Elland Road before a number of hap-hazard performances last term leading up to his ban.
This season, he’s had shockers against Hull and Crawley, with the latter performance in the FA Cup being one of the worst goalkeeper displays ever seen.
Casilla’s a liability and we don’t care if he’s good with the ball at his feet and has an eye for a counter-attack.
Illan Meslier is leagues above the Spaniard, who should be released in the summer.
In other Leeds United news, Charlie Austin has been blown away by this under-the-radar Whites star.