Daniel Farke said ‘it would be a sign of madness’ to make Leeds change this season – now he has no choice

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United slipped up again in the Championship, drawing 2-2 to Swansea, with two Illan Meslier errors proving costly.

Despite saving a penalty, Meslier had another game to forget in a Leeds United shirt. His first issue came in the 64th minute, when he fumbled the ball in his box, leaving Harry Darling to tap home from six yards, making the score 1-1.

Wilfried Gnonto then put Daniel Farke’s promotion-chasing side back in the ascendancy in the 86th with an emphatic finish, which looked destined to win the match.

Swansea had other ideas. In the dying embers of the match, Zan Vipotnik found himself at an acute angle in the Lilywhites penalty area and finished underneath Meslier for a real misery compiler for the Frenchman, and Leeds.

Farke defended Meslier after the game – but it’s sounding like the same old story for Leeds with their keeper.

Daniel Farke backed Illan Meslier in January

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds after the 3-3 draw with Hull in January, a game with yet another Meslier mistake, Daniel Farke backed his goalkeeper and said it would be ‘madness’ to think about dropping him.

“I will always be there to back my players,” Farke began. “The outside world they love to try to divide us, the old song is Leeds are falling apart, no, no we are pretty close together.

“It would be a sign of madness to think about making a change. We would be the only club in the whole history of football to be top of the table after 60% of games, who is eight games unbeaten, more points than anyone else over the festive period and then we panic about our highly-rated number one?

“We all back him. If the outside world hopes we will crumble, it won’t happen.”

Farke then went on to speak about his confidence, which after the Swansea clash, again must be shot.

He continued: “I spoke with Illan about this and although he has had many clean sheets and many good saves he could show this with more consistency. It’s important to be honest and open.”

“On the other hand, we can not forget what we have here. He is a 24-year-old man who is quite self-critical and he was disappointed with his last performance,” the German added.

“He came here more or less as a teenager and has been loyal to the club even when there has been interest in him. He is highly rated in the football world and has more than 200 games for us already.

“He was named as the best goalkeeper in the Championship last season, named by a neutral panel. He has kept 14 clean sheets so far this season and we are top of the table.

“It’s important to be honest about what he can improve but also to back him.”

It is important to back your players, granted – but is this a step too far for Farke and Leeds?

Leeds United now must bench Illan Meslier

Despite Farke’s backing as little as two months prior, with Leeds chasing promotion, imminent change is necessary – they must bench Meslier.

The Frenchman has cost them far too many points this season, and with a difficult run-in for the last seven gamers, it may be time to give Karl Darlow a shot between the sticks.

A lot must come down to Farke’s stubbornness. In the Leeds manager’s mind, he’ll have made the decision, and now feels he must stick by it. But this is rather ludicrous.

A starting XI should be based on form, and despite Meslier’s favourable stats in this Championship campaign, due to his frequent mistakes – it’s baffling how he hasn’t been exiled.

Leeds fans’ frustration with Meslier is rising game by game. One thing’s for certain, if they do obtain Premier League football – it’d be difficult to see the 25-year-old retaining his place between the sticks at Elland Road in England’s top flight.