Leeds United already Premier League team says Hull City's Grant McCann, assesses Illan Meslier debut

Leeds United are a Premier League team in everything but name, according to Hull City manager Grant McCann.
Illan Meslier was confident under high balls on his Leeds United Championship debut said Hull City boss Grant McCann (Pic: Tony Johnson)Illan Meslier was confident under high balls on his Leeds United Championship debut said Hull City boss Grant McCann (Pic: Tony Johnson)
Illan Meslier was confident under high balls on his Leeds United Championship debut said Hull City boss Grant McCann (Pic: Tony Johnson)

The Whites ran riot against his Tigers on Saturday, particularly in the second half when they added three more goals to Luke Ayling's fifth-minute opener.

Marcelo Bielsa's men, sitting second in the Championship and five points clear of third, are showing all the benefits of the time they have now spent together under the head coach.

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“I think it's a measure of where Leeds are at the minute," said McCann.

"They're an excellent team, they've been together for two seasons, they don't change much. That whole group's been together for a while and you can see that. The work on the training ground pays off and they all start understanding their roles."

Pulling positives from a 4-0 defeat is as difficult a task as containing Leeds when they're in the mood that saw them tear Hull City apart, but McCann believes the experience will benefit the younger members of his side.

In his eyes, Leeds gave the Tigers a glimpse of what it takes to play in the top flight of English football.

“I think they're a Premier League team," he said.

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“The way they play, the way they pass, their confidence on the ball, their energy's good, they're just a very good team.

“It was a real team performance. They just get the job done, don't they? They grind away at you and keep pressing you. They're confident, that's the big thing."

That confidence was even carried by United's teenager keeping goal.

Illan Meslier discovered on Friday evening that he would be thrown in for his first Championship start, following the announcement of an eight-game ban for first-choice stopper Kiko Casilla.

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The racism charge against the Spaniard was found to be proven and with no sign of an appeal from the Elland Road outfit, Meslier - who turned 20 today - has become Bielsa's goalkeeper for the majority of the promotion run-in.

McCann admitted his side could have tried to put more pressure on the debutant, but rates the Leeds loanee highly.

“I don't know if that will help teams or not [Casilla being out], I know Meslier's a very good goalkeeper," said the Hull manager.

"There were a couple of times when the ball came into the box and he was very confident, he caught it. He's a good keeper.

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“We were aware of it [being his Championship debut] but it's very easy saying put balls over the top of him, the game doesn't always go the way you think it's going to go.

"There were a couple of occasions where we could have been a bit more physical with him but that wasn't the reason why we lost.”

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