BREAKING: ‘Best in the league’ – Daniel Farke addresses Leeds United error with a shower of… Read More.
‘Best in the league’ – Daniel Farke addresses Leeds United error with a shower of… Read More.
Daniel Farke, the manager of Leeds United, recently showered praise on his goalkeeper Illan Meslier, calling him the best in the Championship despite a costly error during a match against Portsmouth. Meslier, a 24-year-old Frenchman, was unable to prevent Portsmouth’s opening goal, which slipped past him at the near post during Saturday’s game at Elland Road.
This goal, which came against the run of play, added to the criticism aimed at Meslier, who had faced relatively little action up until that point. Despite this, Farke has given his full support to Meslier, attributing the mistake to a potential lapse in concentration due to Leeds’ early dominance in the match.
Farke acknowledged the situation by saying, “He’s a great shot-saver. For me, he’s the best keeper in this league. You just have to think about the unbelievable saves of last season.” He elaborated on how the first half of the match may have lulled the team into underestimating certain situations due to their control of the game. This may have contributed to Meslier not being fully focused when Portsmouth had their first shot on target.
The Leeds United boss reflected on the challenging nature of goalkeeping, especially when a goalkeeper is not frequently involved in the action. Farke suggested that Meslier, like any player, is prone to making mistakes but emphasized that even the best footballers have moments where they falter. Despite the disappointment of conceding such a goal, Farke sees Meslier’s potential as still very much in development, noting that the goalkeeper is still young and has room to grow.
Farke remained confident in Meslier’s abilities, expressing that the goalkeeper’s best years are still ahead of him, likely in his early 30s when he would have fully matured as a player. The German coach stressed that Meslier’s mistake does not overshadow his quality, as he continues to view him as the best goalkeeper in the Championship.
Farke wrapped up his defense of Meslier by acknowledging that the goalkeeper was likely disappointed in himself for not saving the goal, as he usually excels in such situations. Nevertheless, he emphasized that such errors are part of the learning process for a young goalkeeper. Farke is clearly pleased to have Meslier as part of his squad and continues to believe in his potential, reiterating that, in his opinion, Meslier is the top goalkeeper in the league.
Despite the error, Farke’s comments underline his strong belief in Meslier’s talent and potential. He is optimistic that Meslier will learn from this experience and continue to develop into an even better player, showing that the manager remains confident in the young goalkeeper’s future at Leeds United.
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