From New York to the Premier League, Leeds and Crystal Palace managers resume their rivalry - Independent 24/4/22
Jesse Marsch and Patrick Vieira meet again in south London on Monday.
Mark Walker
Jesse Marsch and Patrick Vieira will resume a fierce rivalry
when Leeds bid to edge further clear of relegation trouble on Monday at Crystal
Palace.
Leeds boss Marsch revealed the pair were involved in “some
heated moments” during their respective managerial spells in Major League
Soccer.
Marsch spent three-and-a-half years as New York Red Bulls
boss until 2018 and in that time clashed regularly with Vieira, who was in
charge of bitter rivals New York City for more than two years.
“When he first made the decision to come to the MLS, we were
all excited to have somebody of his stature in the league,” Marsch said.
“When he came to New York City FC, it meant that I had to
hate him. But he’s not an easy guy to hate because – first of all from an
expertise and a work perspective, he’s very good, a very good coach.
“And we have differing styles and different ways of thinking
about the game, but it always made for really interesting matches and we had
some heated moments.
“But I think over time we grew to really respect each other.
We got to know each other more and more.
“One friend we had in common was Gerard Houllier, who was
always there to kind of help bring us together in some moments when we had
these derby matches.”
Vieira left New York to take charge of Nice in June 2018 and
Marsch, who left New York Red Bulls to become Ralf Rangnick’s assistant at
Leipzig the following month, said he closely followed Vieira’s progress.
Marsch said: “If you talk to players that have played for
him, they all have massive respect for him and not just because he was a good
player – he was an excellent player – but because he’s a good manager.
“So it will be a big challenge on the day. You know, we know
each other pretty well. We have new groups now.
“It’ll be a clash of styles again, but an opportunity for me
and our team to test ourselves against a very good manager and a very good
team.”
Leeds were dealt another big injury blow this week with Adam
Forshaw ruled out of the run-in after fracturing his kneecap.
But Marsch said the silver lining was that Kalvin Phillips
was “100 per cent” fit and set to make his first start since early December.
The England midfielder has made two substitute appearances
after recovering from a long-term hamstring injury.
Marsch added: “I’ve seen from the beginning that he has an
effect in the group, no question, because of his personality, his quality, and
what it means to be part of Leeds United.
“My challenge to Kalvin has been to push him to be better
and better and to be the best. That’s my goal for him.
“He had a really good training week. He’s fully fit, he’s
fully ready and we’re excited for him to be back.”
