Phil Hay shares Jesse Marsch’s new Leeds United anti-stress game preparation before Watford win
Jesse Marsch has implemented a new routine ahead of Leeds United matches aimed at keeping stress down, according to The Athletic‘s Phil Hay.
Having taken over a club in the throws of a relegation battle the American has made a point of downplaying the significance of specific games, to try to take pressure off his embattled players.
It appears to be having the desired affect, as the 3-0 win at Vicarage Road yesterday (9 April) makes it three victories in a four-game unbeaten run.
Hay wrote in The Athletic today following the Watford result: “Stress has been on Marsch’s mind since he replaced Marcelo Bielsa, specifically the job of easing it and quelling it.
“He has taken to making Thursdays, or matchday-minus-two as football likes to call it, a gentler day and trying to avoid over-stating the importance of individual games, even if the table speaks for itself.
“Last week was managed in that way and Leeds’ board are getting from him what they wanted when they sacked Bielsa: results, plain and simple, which keep the club away from the rocks.”
Zen
Whatever Marsch is doing it is working in one way or the other, as results don’t lie.
Despite other sides in the relegation battle starting to dig out wins, the Whites have put together a strong run at just the right time to keep them above the real slog-fest below.
This weekend’s win was a scrappy affair, the high quality goals from Raphinha and Jack Harrison aside, but the points were important.
For a squad that looked like their confidence was shot as they collapsed repeatedly in the final weeks of the Marcelo Bielsa reign, the new anti-stress emphasis is sure to have been a relief.
If Marsch can ride it out for the remainder of the season Premier League football at Elland Road next year is almost certain.
Then the former Red Bull Salzburg boss can set about implementing his plans fully as part of what is sure to be a busy summer.
In other Leeds United news, fan footage captured this weekend tells its own story about the future of a star Whites man.