MARCELO BIELSA will never cave to public pressure after making the controversial Kiko Casilla captain against Hull in the Carabao Cup.
The Spanish keeper was given an eight-match ban last season for racially abusing Charlton’s Jonathan Leko.
Many Leeds fans fumed that goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, banned for racially abusing Jonathan Leko last season, was made captain on WednesdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Many Leeds fans were up in arms when the 33-year-old, who is now second-choice to Illan Meslier, was given the armband for Wednesday’s penalties defeat.
But Bielsa said the rest of the team approved it.
Then he questioned how many supporters opposed the choice.
The Leeds boss said: “His team-mates think he deserved to be the captain and we have to listen to those messages.
“The players see in their captain someone they feel can represent them.
“Surely those who judge Kiko ignore a lot of the things his team-mates see in him?
“Should I have contemplated whether to pick him as captain by taking the opinions of the fans or players?
“The public won’t have all the information that his team-mates have.
Bielsa defended his decision by suggesting the rest of the Leeds players were happy with Casilla wearing the armbandCredit: EPA
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“The opinion of the masses should always be heard but I don’t know what percentage of fans actually didn’t want Kiko as captain.
“We have to accept the decision of the authorities but we value the conduct of Kiko, which only we can judge because we are part of the group.”
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa confirms that he will be staying at the club for the next year
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
