Richard Keys has defended Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch and has insisted the club would have been relegated already had Marcelo Bielsa still been in charge.
At the end of February, Leeds officials appointed the American head coach after a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur that saw Bielsa sacked as a fifth defeat in six games left Leeds just two points above the relegation zone.
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The club have picked up 12 points from a possible 33 since Marsch took charge and they have been sucked into a relegation scrap due to the upturn in form from Burnley and Everton.
Pascal Struijk’s late equaliser at the weekend earned what could prove to be a crucial point for the Whites against Brighton & Hove Albion as the club moved one point ahead of Burnley, but they have played a game more than the Clarets.
However, no matter what occurs in the final week, Keys – who has taken aim at Leeds in the past – is adamant that Marsch’s hands are clean.
Writing on his blog, the presenter wrote:
“Whatever happens at Leeds is not Jesse Marsch’s fault. If Bielsa had been left in charge, Leeds would’ve been relegated weeks ago. Bielsa left a team brutalised by his regime – absolutely shot – running on empty.
“Marsch has done brilliantly to have Leeds in with a chance of survival.”
TIF Thoughts on Marsch and Leeds…
A strong stance from Keys for sure, and Bielsa did leave them with an unwanted record of conceding the most goals (20) in a single month in Premier League history, which has seriously hampered their goal difference (-38) should relegation be decided on that account.
Considering the injuries that Marsch has had to contend with, as well as the loss of Stuart Dallas through a fractured leg, followed by Luke Ayling and Dan James’ suspensions – all in successive games – he has done tremendously to leave the club with a shout of safety heading into the final weekend.
We will never know where the club would have ended up under Bielsa and perhaps the Argentinian could have turned it around, but it’s fair to say that Marsch, considering the circumstances, deserves the backing of supporters.
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