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Jesse Marsch opens up on succeeding Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United manager
Jesse Marsch has opened up on replacing Marcelo Bielsa as manager of Leeds United, and admitted he “underestimated” the job.
The American replaced the legendary boss during the 2021/22 season and managed to steer the Whites away from relegation on the final day, before being sacked the following season before our eventual drop to the Championship.
But speaking to the 5Live Sport Euro Leagues (16 November), Marsch admitted that he struggled with replacing Bielsa due to his standing at Leeds and revealed he underestimated the job.
“For anyone to follow Marcelo in any situation is not easy,” he said.
“And I underestimated – I followed Marcelo, I had watched and learn from the things he does, he’s incredibly unique and authentic and in some ways. So off the wall in so many things he tries to do.
“If you don’t pay attention to what he is doing then you are not really doing your job. We have a lot of differences, Marcelo and I, as people and coaches.”
Impossible job
In fairness to Marsch, whoever came in to eventually replace Bielsa was going to be in for a really tough time both on and off the pitch.
Bielsa had an aura that made every Whites fan feel that everything would be okay in the end, despite the fact we were getting battered regularly and in big trouble towards the end of his reign.
So when he got sacked and Marsch got brought in, fans were immediately unsure because we all felt that Bielsa would be able to save us and this was just the board panicking more than anything else.
It worked in the short-term considering we avoided the drop that season, but ultimately Marsch wasn’t the man to take over. His approach was wrong, he wasn’t good enough tactically and he didn’t maximise the players we had.
Him leaving made sense and we’re in a better place now as a club despite the fact we’re in the Championship. While it was the impossible job, Marsch didn’t help himself.
In other Leeds news, star open to January exit as report shares if he will push for exit to Euro club.