Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier said he had the club’s interest at heart when he chose to remain at Elland Road this season.
It has been a complete turnaround for the Frenchman in the past year; he was the undisputed number one coming off a great season in the Premier League in 2021/22 and was even lined up as the next France national team goalkeeper.
However a series of costly errors in the 2022/23 Premier League season saw him dropped from the team at the tail end of the season, and eventually Leeds were relegated. Meslier also failed to keep his spot in goal for France in the U21 European Championships.
The goalkeeper has turned it around and has been a crucial part of Leeds’ league campaign this season with some spectacular displays. Meslier reveals why he didn’t leave Elland Road this summer:
“Of course. You have to put everything on the table and think what can be good, what can be not good, but what was good was the reorganisation of the club and the manager who came in.”
“Just me, as a keeper, wanted to play as much as I can. It wasn’t good for me to leave and maybe be on the bench somewhere or not sure to play. Leaving when the club is relegated is difficult, but I didn’t want to be selfish. Sometimes you have to be selfish, but it wasn’t myself to do this.”
“So it’s just like, let’s see you do one season, try everything to be promoted, and after you never know what can happen. I want to do everything I can to help Leeds to promote again because our place is in the Premier League.”
