Illan Meslier reveals his footballing dream and most beautiful Leeds United moment - YEP 24/6/23
Whites keeper Illan Meslier has revealed his footballing dream and reflected on his most beautiful Leeds United emotion.
By Lee Sobot
Meslier is currently away with the France under-21s squad
for this summer’s under-21s Euros, to which the keeper arrived following an
awful end to the Premier League season with Leeds. Meslier had been first
choice Whites keeper since being handed his big chance back in February 2020
but new boss Sam Allardyce dropped the 23-year-old for the last four games of
the 2022-23 campaign following a string of errors in goal.
The experienced Joel Robles instead took his place between
the sticks but Leeds were ultimately relegated to the Premier League just three
years after winning promotion as Championship champions under Marcelo Bielsa.
Meslier, though, says that sealing promotion and also last
October’s 2-1 victory at Liverpool are the most beautiful emotions of his
career, the shock Anfield triumph arriving after a series of brilliant stops
from the French keeper.
“The rise in the Premier League was an extraordinary
moment,” said Meslier in a feature with the France Football Federation, asked
for the most beautiful emotion of his career so far.
"There is also this year's match at Anfield Road
against Liverpool where we won in the last minutes and where I achieved a very
good performance. When we come out of this type of encounter, we think back to
our journey and everything we have experienced, which has brought us to this
precise moment. Winning in this mythical stadium and facing such players is
exhilarating.”
Pressed on what was his biggest footballing dream, Meslier
declared before laughing: “Win the Champions League and the World Cup. Why not
the same year, see you in 2026!”
