'So much work to do' - Jesse Marsch on Leeds United reality after Australia tour ends in Crystal Palace draw - YEP 22/7/22

Jesse Marsch entertained questions from Australian and British media following Leeds’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Friday

By Graham Smyth

Leeds United have a lot of work still to do ahead of the Premier League season but it's not a new experience for head coach Jesse Marsch.

Speaking after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace to end a three-game pre-season tour of Australia, Marsch admitted the Whites aren't exactly where he wants them.

He insisted, however, that the performance against the Eagles looked more like the football he's trying to get them to play and he has confidence ahead of the campaign.

"I don't know how many years I've been a manager now but I've literally never come out of pre-season and gone into the season feeling like we're ready," he said.

"It's just the reality. It's an ongoing process. But you know, from day one, the work and the concentration from this group of players has always allowed us to, day by day, maximise what we're trying to become. So I still know there's so much work to do, but again, I feel that we're going to have a good team this season."

The Palace game was every bit as feisty as the Aston Villa fixture that preceded it, with challenges flying in from both sides all over the pitch leading to several yellow cards.

Leeds caused Palace problems with their press but were hurt on the counter attack on occasions, most notably for a Palace goal which came from a Whites' corner.

Marsch is keen to turn promising situations in the final third into much more.

"For me tonight was one of our best games in terms of tactical clarity in our execution of what we want the game to look like," he said.

"You know we're still working on our effectiveness in the last third and our ability to turn some advantages into real concrete chances and goals. It's been a theme since I've been here but the level that the game is played out it's so high that goals come at a premium. So we still have work to do, but I can say that having our team in concentration like this over a two week period has brought them together in a big way.

"It's clear to see that the additions have brought a lot and fit in really well.

"And I think that there's a general sense of real positive energy and optimism inside the team right now."

After two weeks Down Under, Marsch is content that Leeds have made real progress.

"I think if you take where we started two weeks ago to where we are now I feel like we're much ahead and we've covered a lot of things tactically, video wise and then also with the team spirit. So I feel like it's been effective, but there's still so much work to do."