Marcelo Bielsa must find ruthless streak from last season and cut ailing Kiko Casilla

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It appears that the recent mishap against Brentford was the final straw for many Leeds United fans when it comes to goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. 

The Spaniard has struggled in recent weeks and with Leeds failing to be clinical at the other end of the pitch, it has proved costly. 

In midweek his error might have cost Leeds all three points in a game they controlled at Griffin Park. 

Leeds were the better team against promotion rivals Brentford but Casilla’s horrific howler in the first half had given the Bees a one-goal head-start. 

After the game, plenty of Leeds fans were calling for Casilla to get the chop. However, it seems that Bielsa will be standing by Casilla going forward.

Leeds fans will undoubtedly hope the Argentine has a change of heart and goes for a goalkeeper change, just like he did last season. 

Bailey Peacock-Farrell was the number one stopper at Leeds at the start of the 2018-19 campaign. However, by November, the Argentine had already decided the Northern Ireland international was set to be replaced. 

Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman was all set to take the number one spot at Elland Road. He arrived at Leeds short of Bielsa’s high fitness standards but had worked hard to lose weight and was all set to take Peacock-Farrell’s place. Bielsa himself told the Yorkshire Evening Post that this was the plan. 

“I’m very sad for him (Blackman). He’s a great person, a great goalkeeper. He made a huge effort to do what we asked him to do. To give you an example, he lost 12 kilos. This indicates his level of application as a professional.

“When he won the opportunity to start a game he got injured. I’m sad for the team and the club but I’m especially sad for him because destiny is unfair on him.”

But Blackman broke his leg and Leeds continued with Peacock-Farrell between the sticks. Casilla was then signed from Real Madrid in January, immediately becoming number one. It left the Leeds academy graduate down the pecking order and, in the summer, he joined Burnley in a reported (YEP) £3.5 million deal.

But Bielsa was clearly ready to be ruthless with his goalkeeping choices last season. Plenty of Leeds fans will be hoping he can be so yet again with the impressive Ilan Meslier waiting in the wings.