Bielsa reacts to Leeds fans criticising him for making Kiko Casilla captain

Marcelo Bielsa has defended his controversial decision to make Kiko Casilla Leeds captain, claiming the players back the former Real Madrid goalkeeper.

Some Leeds fans are upset by Bielsa giving Casilla the skipper’s armband for the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Hull because he was banned last season for racially abusing Charlton’s Jonathan Leko.

The Leeds head coach says Casilla has the support of the dressing room and questioned how many supporters were angry with his decision.

“I respect the thoughts of any person,” said Bielsa. “After that, opinions can be argued. 

“Surely those who judge Kiko ignore a lot of things his team-mates see in him.

“You are saying I should have considered whether to pick Kiko as captain, to take the opinion of the fans or the players. 

“I can’t deny that the captain not only represents his team-mates, but he also represents the club. 

“That means you can’t limit me to think about just what the players’ wishes were. 

“It’s also important that you guys may not know what is percentage of the fanbase that actually didn’t want Kiko as captain.

“The opinion of the masses should always be heard, but I don’t know if you guys know what percentage of the fans it actually is.”

Casilla, 33, was banned for eight games in February and fined £60,000 after being found guilty of abusing Leko.

Hull was only his second appearance for Leeds since then and he has lost the No 1 spot to France Under-21 international Illan Meslier.

Bielsa claims those fans who criticise Casilla because of his ban do not know the full facts of the incident.

“When you are subject to what other people judge you for or think, it doesn’t matter what we think, we have to accept the decision of the authorities,” he said.

“Surely the public won’t have all the information that his team-mates will have.

“Of course we value the conduct of Kiko, which only we can judge because we are part of the group.

“His team-mates think he deserves to be the captain and we have to listen to those messages. The players see in their captains someone who they think can represent them.”