Illan Meslier surprised by what Daniel Farke did in pre-season at Leeds United
Illan Meslier has admitted that he was “surprised” when Daniel Farke told him that he would be one of the Leeds United vice-captains this season.
The keeper is one of the West Yorkshire outfit’s longest-serving players and nobody has made more starts than him since he arrived at Elland Road.
Speaking to Leeds Live on 30 July, Meslier reiterated that he was proud to become vice-captain but admitted that it came out of nowhere.
“The manager spoke to us all together at the same time to announce this,” he said. “I’m very happy, very proud to be [vice-captain] because now it’s five years I’ve been here. I’m happy I can have more responsibility, but nothing’s changed.
“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, what I did already. It’s just a name, but I’m not changing anything else. I’m just happy.
“He didn’t speak individually. He just said Ethan will be captain, Pascal and myself will be the vice-captains. I was a little bit surprised because I never expect something like this.”
Illan Meslier staying at Leeds United is good news for the club
Since the start of the summer transfer window, there have been murmurs about the future of many of Leeds’ first-team players.
Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, and Meslier are three of the names that spring to mind the most.
Granted, the Frenchman’s links with an exit mainly came at the start of the window when the Whites needed a big sale to abide by the EFL’s PSR guidelines [The Athletic, 14 June].
However, a move never came to fruition which is likely for the better. Indeed, both Karl Darlow and the newly arrived Alex Cairns are two solid options when it comes to the goalkeeping position but neither have the same sort of quality that Meslier possesses.
And, now that his future has seemingly been confirmed, it can be said that the club have one of the strongest defensive lines in the Championship which will no doubt help their quest for promotion this season.
In other Leeds news, an update has been shared on the Whites’ pursuit of a Nigerian defender.
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