Jesse Marsch press conference live: Leeds United head coach discusses deadline day moves - YEP 1/9/22

Jesse Marsch faces the media this afternoon ahead of his side’s trip to Brentford this weekend

By Joe Donnohue

Leeds’ last visit to Brentford is one which will live long in the memory.

Jack Harrison’s stoppage time winner, Raphinha walking the length of the pitch on his knees, Jesse Marsch mobbed by his staff at full-time and jubilant scenes inside the away end ensured Leeds’ Premier League survival was a pulsating and memorable affair.

This weekend, the Whites return to West London with the pressure not nearly as intense owing to United’s start to the campaign.

However, with a matter of hours before the transfer window closes this evening, Leeds are still thought to be ‘actively pursuing’ an additional striker, despite missing out on Charles de Ketelaere and seemingly Cody Gakpo, too, this summer.

Jesse Marsch will be speaking to the press about his side’s deadline day ambitions as well as previewing the trip to the capital.

Marsch on Bamford and Gelhardt’s relationship

Patrick has really taken Joffy under his wing, trying to mentor him and make him into a great striker. I love seeing that, I think Joffy loves it too. He sent Joffy a to-do list of things he should be thinking about in the match [before Brentford last season]. I want to leave room for leadership.

Marsch on attacking options

Joffy has played mostly striker here but if you were to talk to him he’s more comfortable coming away from defenders. One of his strengths is his cleverness to move in both positions. I think if you play with two strikers and Patrick drifts on the last line and he drops off. In there I think we’re also getting a lot out of Harrison and Aaronson, too and Sinisterra I think we’re going to get more out of.

Marsch on recruitment

I do trust Victor explicitly and Andrea has been a great partner as well. When we go through it it’s not just picking names out of the air. Victor and his scouting team have this down to a science almost. It’s been a lot for him, he was in Holland last night, he’s been moving around.

Marsch on centre-backs

I think in general Liam is an incredibly important person in this team. I think he brings a lot to us at all moments and certainly on the field. There was a bit of Liam and Diego, Robin has emerged as an incredible player, maybe our best in the first five games. Pascal has also been fantastic, better than we’d hoped. All four of those guys are gonna play a big role. There’s competition in a really competitive, healthy way.

Marsch on doing business early

The reason we acted so quickly from the beginning because we didn’t want to be stuck in massive situations at the end. When some of our targets didn’t come through we had to manage the market and figure out what we needed.

Marsch on discussing recruitment with the squad

I’m pretty open with them because I don’t like having secrets within the team.

Marsch on Orta

I think we operate on the same frequency. The only thing is understanding his English sometimes. I understand his mannerisms and energy even when I don’t understand his English. We have a great relationship. He comes every day with passion. He’s also a good listener, so when it comes for us to have really important discussions we can get to the core of what we want. I think you have to include Angus and his ability to work closely with us and get the balance right, calm, level-head and logically think about solutions. Victor is the reason I’m here more than anything.

Marsch on behaviour and referees

We have different styles, the goal for me is always to sit down and allow the team to carry out the plan because they’re so clear on what we are. We’re working towards that but we’re not there yet. Some of my emotion is towards referees sometimes, but I understand they’re humans and sometimes they have bad performances too. We have a lot of new referees who haven’t had Premier League games - I have empathy for that. I might not always show it, but I do

Marsch on Leeds

I’m very excited about the possibilities of what we can do here. The club, the people, the players, the commitment to excellence from a work perspective is better than anywhere I’ve been.

Marsch on Harrison

From day one, Jack has been one of the players who has adapted best. I think he’s having an excellent start to the season.

Marsch on the end of the window

I’m always laser focused on what’s going on with the personnel we have in the squad. It means my phone won’t be ringing as much, which I will appreciate. We haven’t let the noise bother us.

Marsch on returning starters

I’d say Liam Cooper is the closest to being able to start. The others we’re considering whether to have them on the bench.

Marsch on Brentford

Now is a new season, a new moment, a new opportunity for us against a good team. Staying in the league was a big moment for them too. This time they’ll be totally focused.

The situation is completely different now. When you talk about Brentford you have to talk about set-piece situations, how creative they are in those moments. That’s what the preparation was today, set-pieces, what we need to be good at on the day. We’ll be expecting a tough match.

Marsch on transfers

Things can pop up in the 11th hour that weren’t there a month or two months ago.

Victor and Andrea have worked so hard in the last three weeks. Again, we like our team, we think we’ve done a good job in this window. The whole time we’ve been figuring out ways to strengthen.

Marsch on Bamford starting this weekend

Yes, I think he can. We could start with Joffy and Patrick, that’s something we’ve been discussing. We have some more options which is a nice thing to have.

Marsch on Everton result

When I went back and watched it again, especially the second half, we played well, we were in command of the game.

Marsch on Dan James exit

I don’t want to comment about Dan’s situation either.

Marsch on transfers

He’s active, we spoke when the day started, there were different discussions about strikers. Not sure how it’ll play out.

I’m not willing to comment on transfers because I haven’t spoken to Victor, I’ve just got off the training pitch.

Marsch on injuries

We’re targeting after the international break [Rodrigo injury]. Everyone else in training except Stuart Dallas.

Bamba Dieng

The latest name linked with an Elland Road arrival is Olympique de Marseille forward Bamba Dieng.

It has been reported by French sources Leeds have agreed an £8.7 million fee with the Ligue 1 club.

Could go right to the wire.

Arrival time

Expecting Jesse Marsch from 1:30pm today. Rather him than us answering questions on deadline day!

Gakpo

Leeds were linked with a move for Cody Gakpo yesterday as Victor Orta reportedly flew over to the Netherlands to watch the Dutch attacker net a hat-trick in PSV Eindhoven’s win over FC Volendam.

A flight chartered for eight people this morning returned with just one passenger, according to Dutch sources, though. That passenger was Orta, they say.

Onto the next one.