Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has told Leeds Live that he values Elia Caprile.
Bielsa included Caprile in his matchday squad for Leeds’s Premier League game against West Ham United at London Stadium on Monday evening.
Kiko Casilla, who is the second-choice goalkeeper at the West Yorkshire club, was left out of the squad.
Bielsa has reiterated that the Spanish goalkeeper was not injured, and has added that he values 19-year-old Caprile.
The Leeds boss told Leeds Live: “What I do say is the truth. If it’s because of injury, then I say it’s because of injury. In the case of Casilla and Caprile, of course I value Caprile.
“I also know the difference between one and the other. What I said to explain Casila’s absence, was that he was not injured and I decided that he would not participate. I think what I said is true and sufficient.”
Is Elia Caprile now ahead of Kiko Casilla?
Illan Meslier is the first-choice goalkeeper at Leeds, and that is not going to change any time soon.
Caprile is a talented and promising young goalkeeper, and him getting ahead of Casilla in the squad against Champions League hopefuls West Ham shows just how good he is.
Leeds are in action against Chelsea this weekend. If Casilla is again left out of the squad and Caprile is on the substitutes’ bench, then an argument could be made that the 19-year-old is going to become the second choice.
The Whites will be looking to bounce back from the defeat to West Ham with victory over Chelsea.
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