Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke revealed that after the match, goalkeeper Illan Meslier was "in tears" over a critical mistake that cost them a win. Meslier's error occurred in the 97th minute when he failed to handle a high ball that led to a 2-2 draw against Sunderland, instead of a victory that would have brought Leeds level with Sunderland in the Championship standings.
Farke emphasized the emotional toll of the situation by stating, "After such a situation, you don't need to talk to Illan, he is the saddest person in the dressing room, he's more or less in tears." He noted that captain Pascal Struijk mentioned the ball had an unfortunate bounce that contributed to Meslier's mistake, but he couldn’t confirm if there was indeed an issue with the pitch.
Further expressing his frustration, Farke said, "To lose those points in this way is heartbreaking, is horrendous, is so sad and disappointing for our lads." He described how the incident was unprecedented in his three decades of coaching, highlighting the unique nature of such a defining error happening at the match's conclusion.
In a show of camaraderie, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris, who once coached Meslier in his youth at Lorient, expressed sympathy towards the French goalkeeper after the match, illustrating the human side of competitive sports, where understanding and support often transcend rivalry.
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