Leeds have been scouting Jesse Marsch for two years – Phil Hay
Leeds United have been analysing Jesse Marsch as a potential replacement for Marcelo Bielsa for two years, according to Phil Hay.
The American is expected to be announced as the new manager at Elland Road on Monday after Bielsa was sacked following nine defeats in 12 games.
The Whites are battling against relegation and director of football Victor Orta and chairman Andrea Radrizzani were forced into change, with the official statement revealing a replacement likely coming in the next 24 hours.
According to Phil Hay of The Athletic, Leeds have been planning for the eventual replacement of Bielsa for a while because of his preference of signing one-year contracts.
He says that Orta and Marsch started talking in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and have remained close ever since, with Orta ‘analysing’ his performances.
A two-year chase looks to be paying off, with Marsch believed to be the man to make a smooth transition away from ‘Murderball’, while still maintaining intense, fast-paced, attacking football.
Panic
The decision to sack Bielsa is one that had been on the horizon for a while because of the poor form, but it still feels like a bit of panic has set in.
Leeds fans are furious and hurt despite four successive defeats and 14 goals conceded in their last three games because Bielsa is a club legend. It wasn’t supposed to end this way.
But the decision has been made now and Marsch is going to need the Elland Road faithful completely on side to try and turn this around over the next six weeks.
Starting with Leicester on Saturday, the Whites will play nobody in the top seven and two of the clubs currently in the bottom three across their next six games. Relegation could be decided in that period.
Orta is the man who initially courted Bielsa and convinced him to join a Leeds side that were struggling for promotion from the Championship.
He has now courted Marsch to replace him, and fans must hope he has got it right once again.
In other Leeds news, ‘Danger’ – Gary Neville sends Leeds major Premier League relegation warning