Jesse Marsch reveals Leeds should have kept Bielsa in charge

Jesse Marsch had reportedly informed Leeds management he was not interested in the position when he was originally asked about it. He recommended that Marcelo Bielsa remain head coach.

After three seasons in the Premier League, Leeds experienced a significant decline and were relegated to the Championship in the 2023-24 season. The last home game of the previous season was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the Whites.

Their last top-division match against Tottenham was more aptly described as a catastrophe. As the season came to a close, Jesse Marsch’s last hope of escaping relegation was a victory. Ultimately, they failed to mount much of a challenge, losing 4-1.

Marcelo Bielsa had assembled a squad that many could only dream of having. They became the main attractions of English soccer because of their fast-paced, free-flowing style of play.

After making a triumphant comeback to the top level, they finished in ninth position with 59 points. Among the 20 teams that have competed in the Premier League, only Ipswich Town in 2001 managed to surpass that.

Although European qualifying was the expectation for Leeds in the next season, they were unable to get beyond the mid-table.

Jesse Marsch speaks about his time at Leeds with Simon Jordan

How did Marsch fare at Leeds?

After Bielsa’s inevitable departure, the club named Jesse Marsch as his successor. They saw the 50-year-old as the ideal candidate to carry on Bielsa’s excellent job as a coach.

Marsch, an American who was eager to dispel any Ted Lasso associations, was known for playing aggressive, high-tempo soccer. It even had some similarities with the Argentine’s style but was obviously different in execution.

With Marsch at the helm, Leeds beat Brentford 2-1 on May 22 to stay in 17th place and escape relegation. No club had done this since 2011 going into the final day of the season.

However, the former RB Leipzig man ultimately proved ill-suited to lead Leeds to…

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Author : Martina Alcheva

Publish date : 2024-01-21 18:13:02

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