Leeds United fans might be left rather amazed at the comments made by Jesse Marsch about former boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Despite having done some incredible work at the club in getting Leeds to the Premier League and solidifying their place in the top flight with a top-half finish in their first year back, Bielsa departed the club after more than three and a half seasons at Elland Road following a terrible run of results.
48-year-old American Marsch, last seen at German side RB Leipzig, has been tasked with taking over from the Argentinian, starting with this weekend’s game against Leicester City, but judging by what he has said, he doesn’t think he should be in this position at all.
What has been said?
Speaking during his introductory press conference (via The Mirror), the American offered his praise for the work Bielsa had done, saying that he felt like the 66-year-old should have been allowed to finish the season in charge, and appeared to make that a point of emphasis to director Victor Orta when he was offered the job.
He said: “I didn’t want Marcelo to have to go out like this, I wanted to see him continue and finish his legacy and keep the team up. I know what it’s like, I just left a team midway through a season, it’s not a good feeling. I wanted Marcelo to finish on a high note and the club to finish on a high note with him.
“I wanted to make that argument with Victor when he called me, but I could see that the group was suffering.”
What does this mean?
Are you confident Marsch can turn it around?
Yes
No
It is certainly an interesting take from Marsch, with even Leeds journalist Beren Cross admitting that he was ‘amazed to hear’ the comments from the American.
Given the relationship that Bielsa had with the fans, perhaps this was just Marsch trying to ingratiate himself with the supporters so that he doesn’t come across as the bad guy that had to come in to replace the God-like figure that was Bielsa – as if he is trying to say, ‘I’m on your side, too’.
One would imagine that Bielsa himself would certainly like to deliver something tangible – even if merely their Premier League survival – in front of the Leeds fans, having secured almost all of their points last year behind closed doors.
TIF Verdict…
As hinted, the relationship between Bielsa and the Leeds fans was something special, and it is going to take something rather significant for him to have anything remotely similar with the fans at Elland Road.
Keeping them up would be one way to help, but even then, it might not be enough to truly form a bond between him and the fans moving forward. But all he can do is try and hope that something special can come along whilst trying to do the job he was brought in to do.
In other news: Key Leeds figure left buzzing as player returns from injury