Jesse Marsch gets timing right on Leeds United's 'man-down' masterplan after throwaway comment - YEP 2/10/22
Leeds United held Aston Villa to a draw at Elland Road after losing Luis Sinisterra to two yellow cards during the second half
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United’s resolve was tested on their return to Premier
League action on Sunday as the Whites played out a goalless draw at home to
Aston Villa.
Summer signing Luis Sinisterra was shown a red card after
picking up his second booking of the game shortly following the restart,
meaning Leeds were forced to play out the remaining half hour with ten men.
Prior to Leeds’ 0-0 draw, though, head coach Jesse Marsch
stated the team had been working on ‘man-down’ tactics during their unplanned,
month-long break.
"We've gotten a little bit healthier,” Marsch said in
his pre-match press conference.
"We've been able to talk a little bit more. We were
able to work on a little bit more man-down tactics. We were able to work
through a little bit more with set pieces with some of the things that we want
to achieve in all the phases of the match,” he added, the reference to
preparing with ten men nothing more than a throwaway comment.
Leeds swiftly changed to a defensive 5-3-1 formation after
Sinisterra’s expulsion, bringing Junior Firpo on for Marc Roca, operating a
U-shape in defence to limit Villa’s man advantage.
The team weathered Steven Gerrard’s side’s late pressure to
hold out for a point and maintain their unbeaten start in the league at home.
Marsch admitted during his post-match press conference that
he had submitted a video to the players in preparation for an eventuality in
which Leeds go down to ten men.
At face value, the timing of Marsch’s ‘man-down’ work on the
training pitch appears to have assisted Leeds in leaving Elland Road with
something.
