Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch tipped as most under-pressure Premier League manager
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch is the most under-pressure manager in the Premier League, according to The Athletic‘s John Muller.
The American took over from Marcelo Bielsa a month ago with the Whites in appalling form and appearing on a one-way course out of the Premier League.
But two dramatic wins in a row heading into the international break have lifted the mood around the club significantly.
That hasn’t stopped Muller breaking ranks with four of his colleagues, who all identified Everton boss Frank Lampard as facing the worst pressure, to choose Marsch as working in the toughest situation.
As part of a rundown of the issues over the final stretch of the season in The Athletic Muller answered the question of who is under the greatest pressure with: “Leeds seem happy with Jesse Marsch so far, but even if his job is safe, an American replacing a club legend during a relegation fight is under crazy pressure.”
Turning the tide
When the final whistle went in the 3-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa there would have been few arguments that the new manager was in big trouble.
The positive signs seen in his first match, the 1-0 loss at Leicester, were gone and he hadn’t picked up a point yet.
Two injury time winners later and things look very different.
Winners were something that were in short supply in the final weeks of the Bielsa era, and such was all-consuming pressure of the relegation threat those points will have bought Marsch a decent chunk of good will.
He knows as much as anyone else he will not be able to take the place of his Argentinian predecessor and made that clear upon arrival.
His demeanour has made it easier for him to take over at a club where the fans truly loved the man he replaced, and the tiresome focus on him being American will die down with every positive result.
A couple more wins and the pressure to a large extent will actually be off.
Attention can then be turned to the important business of retaining star players and overhauling the squad.
In other Leeds United news, one Premier League star is in line to be sold with a Whites player earmarked to replace him.