Marsch: Leeds should believe like Gandhi and fight like Ali - The Athletic 10/5/22
By Luke Brown
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch wants his struggling side
to take inspiration from the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and
Muhammad Ali in their attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Marsch replaced Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road with Leeds sat
16th in the Premier League table. But since the American’s appointment they
have picked up just 11 points from nine matches and have fallen into the
relegation places.
Leeds take on Chelsea next at home on Wednesday and Marsch
has said he has been attempting to inspire his side by showing them various
inspirational quotes.
He said: “Inspiration is a big part of this job and when you
lead people you have to find ways to have your finger on the pulse of exactly
what's happening at any moment.
“I have 52 excerpts from books that I sometimes give players
when, individually, I think they need something to motivate them based on where
they are in their development path or who they are as people to reach them
differently rather than the conversations I have with them.
“I’ve used Muhammed Ali a few times with the group, Michael
Jordan is a guy I'm inspired by, Phil Jackson. I use things that resonate with
me that I think can also fit within the standing of where we are.
“There are other historical figures like Gandhi, Mother
Teresa, and presidents like JFK that have meant something to where we are
historically in the world right now.”
Leeds winger Jack Harrison meanwhile said after the club’s
2-1 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday: “[Marsch] showed a quote from Gandhi before
the game about having belief and that’s the most important thing for us.
“Just having belief and everything else comes after that,
staying together and the tactics and everything like that.”
