After struggling for regular playing time at Real Madrid, Kiko Casilla left Los Blancos and joined Leeds United in January 2019.
Following his arrival at Elland Road, Marcelo Bielsa made him the first choice goalkeeper as he finished the 2018/19 season with 17 Championship appearances.
Having topped the table for most part of the previous campaign, the Whites failed to finish in the top two and achieve direct promotion to the Premier League. Their hopes of climbing up were further crushed after Derby County overcame Leeds in the playoff.
Spanish newspaper AS sat down for an interview with the 32-year-old and the main focus has been about Zinedine Zidane’s return to Real Madrid and the goalkeeping situation at Santiago Bernabéu.
When Casilla was quizzed as to what Leeds lacked, he said: “Believing in ourselves more in the last few games. This league is not easy, it is very competitive.”
Casilla was also asked about Leeds’ plans for the 2019/20 season after missing out on the promotion.
He said: “Learning from what we did well, many things, and improving what we didn’t. It was a serious beating, but football is sometimes treacherous and cruel. You spend a few weeks f****d up, but then you have to reset your head and try again.”
The ex-Real Madrid man stressed Leeds have the pressure to make it to the top flight club competition in England.
“This year we will know more about Bielsa’s style and we have that obligation to win every game. A draw is no longer worth it. We have that pressure, but we also want it. It’s not going to be easy,” Casilla stressed.
