Quarterback is considered one of the most important and highly pressured roles in world sport, but that responsibility is exactly what Jesse Marsch wants from Illan Meslier with Leeds United. The Whites have conceded eight goals in the six matches Marsch has overseen, but recorded their first clean sheet since late November on Saturday.
Meslier generates a lot of interest as one of the youngest stoppers playing regularly in Europe’s biggest five leagues and with his peak not expected for another 10 years, there is a frighteningly talented prospect on United’s hands. After an encouraging series of performances in his first Premier League season, Meslier has felt the pressure a little more at times in this campaign, underlined by statistics which suggest he perhaps should have stopped more goals than he has in 21/22.
Whatever your stance on Meslier, Marsch is keen to keep giving goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad the freedom to take the lead with a little input here and there from the American. The head coach wants Meslier setting the tempo and deciding the way his team attacks when he has the ball at the back.
