Leeds United challenge ‘doesn’t faze’ Jesse Marsch
When Jesse Marsch took over the reins at Leeds United, things were looking a lot more precarious than they are right now.
Marcelo Bielsa had just overseen 20 goals go into the Whites’ net in just one month (a Premier League record) and he was given the chop at the end of February as a result.
Marsch may have started life in Leeds with back to back defeats but he has turned the ship around with seven points coming from their last three games.
The boss spoke to the BBC about why he took the job at Elland Road and how he has been received by the passionate supporters of the football club.
“This doesn’t faze me,” he said. “Even coming here, maybe you could say, ‘OK, you come to Leeds United, you’re following a great manager, you’re in a relegation fight, you’re thrown in the deep end’, but OK, let’s go. I don’t really look at it as being fearful or having things to be afraid of.
“Even in the community, when people have seen me, they’ve been so friendly and they’ve been so open and I know that everybody misses Marcelo, but they’ve tolerated me and supported me in a good way.”
Right call
Bielsa was seen as a messiah at Elland Road during his time as manager and that feeling hasn’t gone away since he was sacked in February.
But despite the sadness that came with his exit, even the most defiant of Bielsa supporters can’t deny that Marsch has kept the spirit of his teams alive.
Leeds are still a very high-tempo team that likes to press almost constantly and attack is definitely the main focus for the American but they have been able to do this without shipping ridiculous amounts of goals.
He has embraced the city, the Premier League and the football club with everything he has got and thankfully, the fans have accepted him into what some still might see as Bielsa’s job and he is producing the goods.
With a transfer window under his belt, next season could be a very successful one for the Whites if Marsch can keep the good times rolling in LS11.
In other Leeds United news, Crysencio Summerville has sent a message to the boss via social media this week.