Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier believes moving out of his ‘comfort zone’ has enabled him to grow into the player that he has become today. In an interview he admitted that while due to the language barrier it took him some time to settle in, he couldn’t be any happier about where is in his career at present.
Illan Meslier said: “I came here at 19 years old. Of course, to come to another country is never easy. I didn’t speak English, but sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone. I arrived here when we were in the Championship and then went up to the Premier League. I am starting, so I am happy. I keep working hard all the time and the opportunity arrived at a good moment.”
During his first full season as first choice between the sticks, Meslier broke the record for the youngest goalkeeper to reach ten clean sheets in the history of the Premier League.
Illan Meslier said: “I saw Hugo Lloris when he came to Tottenham from Lyon. I remember Peter Cech too and Edwin van der Saar a bit. My model, though, was more Manuel Neuer. He’s more one of my examples. I like to watch the goalkeepers, watch their quality and then try and do the same, to make my own version of a goalkeeper.”
Meslier admits that his aim is to become the best goalkeeper in the world.
Illan Meslier said: “Of course! If not, then I should not be here. If that wasn’t my target, I would play in a lower division. I want to be the best. For myself, since I was younger, that has been my target. Marcelo Bielsa gave me my opportunity and it’s amazing to keep playing. So, of course, I want to be the best and I work very hard every day to try and achieve this target.”
