'There's something special going on here' - Jesse Marsch's 2015 post-match team-talk signals tone shift at Leeds United - YEP 28/2/22
Outgoing Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is not famed for developing cosy relationships with his players.
By Flora Snelson
After the Argentine's exit had been confirmed on Sunday,
Kalvin Phillips shared footage of him and Bielsa embracing as Leeds celebrated
their promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2020.
This expression of joy was a rare exception, according to
Phillips, who said that the reserved coach prefers to keep some distance from
the players in his squad.
"He's different in the way that he works,"
Phillips told the BBC. "He doesn't like to get too close to his players.
"It's just very football-orientated.
"If he's got a bone to pick with you he'll make it
clear there and then."
Jesse Marsch, who is tipped to succeed Marcelo Bielsa as the
Whites head coach, looks set to bring about a shift in mood at Elland Road.
The American is renowned for showing no restraint and
performing energetically on the touchline, and a clip of Marsch giving a team
talk to his former side the New York Red Bulls in 2015 shows the affection he
has for players under his management.
In July 2015, the Red Bulls took on Chelsea in a pre-season
friendly and claimed a shock 4-2 victory over the Premier League holders.
After the game, Marsch greets the players coming off the
pitch and is thanked by Sean Davis, whose four-minute brace won the game for
New York.
Marsch slaps Davis on the back and says,
"congratulations, couldn't be happier for you".
Later, in the dressing room, Marsch holds nothing back,
sharing how the players' efforts on the pitch had made him feel.
"Alright, listen up. You know how before the game we
talked about not being afraid, believing in yourselves, going out on the field
and committing to eachother?" Marsch says.
"You guys really made us all proud and I want you all
to know that, you really made us all proud.
"This is a big night for our club and we couldn't be
prouder, so well done."
"Listen, the work that's been done by these
guys..." Marsch says.
"Everybody working together at this club - we can all
share, literally everybody in this room can share in the success tonight.
"This is a big club victory for us, and this is a taste
of what we're going to be for the future. So well done guys.
"If we play the way that we can play, if we stick to
the style, if we're committed to playing for each other, if we're committed to
making the game fast and hard and going after them - then we can be successful
in any game.
"We played some of the best players in the world -
okay, they're in preseason, they're not quite fit yet and everything else - but
when eleven guys on the field are committing to making the game hard, to
playing the game fast, to going after them in every way.... we can win, right?
"It's a little bit of a taste for everybody to now know
that there's something special going on here, that we've got to all keep going,
and there's a lot of possibilities in this room."
