Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier believes the current Whites side under Daniel Farke is superior to the one he played with under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019/20.
Leeds’ hopes of promotion this season remain high, as they are firmly in contention for automatic promotion, albeit with twists and turns to come before the season’s final against Southampton in May.
Daniel Farke has been here twice before with Norwich City, as have a few members of the Leeds club who won the title in 2019/20.
Illan Meslier makes a bold claim when comparing Leeds in 19/20 and 23/24.
Prior to the match against Huddersfield Town, goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who already has a Championship winners’ medal, assessed the current side’s promotion prospects.
He believes that the current Leeds team under Farke is superior than the one he played for under Marcelo Bielsa, as he stated (via the YEP):
“This is a better team for us. The players have good talent here, as they have in the past, but what are the similarities? Ups and downs occur during the season. We had downs and now have a great up, so we must persevere and keep going.
“We have 12 games left, and we know how crucial each game is, with three points in each, but are there any similarities? Each game is critical, and we remember that with Marcelo. We took game after game. It was the most important, as was maintaining a large number of points while ensuring they could not return back to you.
Meslier provides a personal reflection on distinctions from Bielsa’s
Meslier’s opinion is valid, given that he has played on both sides and is one of the starters between the sticks.
The Frenchman believes he is a stronger player than he was as a relatively unknown adolescent in 19/20, having already gained extensive experience for his age, as he continued:
“I am a completely different person. When I first arrived, I was a teenager, and I’m still a young man, but I have a lot of experience at the highest level, with the [Under 21] national team. I can’t compare myself. I’m doing considerably better right now. I am still learning and maturing as a man. It’s just more experience and improving in every aspect of a goalie.”
Meslier has a point, but Leeds’ circumstances are dramatically different.
As Ipswich fans keep saying, “This Leeds team is loaded with parachute payments and a £70 million attack, so they should be promoted.”
So, when Meslier believes this team is better than Bielsa’s Leeds, he is correct; yet, a match between the two would not be as clear.
The points disparity between Bielsa’s Leeds and Farke’s Leeds at this juncture is significant, but the level of play is not.
