Mighty Leeds Weblog

After seeing his side score a dramatic late winner away against Liverpool on Saturday night, Jesse Marsch gave his thoughts to the media. The Leeds United head coach oversaw a stunning and memorable victory, which saw Rodrigo score in the first half, before Crysencio Summerville struck a 90th minute winner. The celebrations on the bench matched those in the stands, as the Whites claimed their first three points away from home this season.   “It was a good performance,” Marsch stated, after the full-time whistle. “It was good that we were able to reward ourselves. My feeling is that we shouldn’t be in the situation we are in, but we are. “I’ve tried to stay calm but also to push. The group is strong and they’re committed, so I am thankful to have them. “They stepped up big today and they are the reason we were able to get the win.” Marsch was asked about how his side overcame recent results and were able to secure the victory at Anfield, a place well renowned for how hard

By Phil Hay Saturday night and despite the fear of Leeds United freezing on Merseyside, the air blew hot. Whigfield was on the stereo as they flooded back into Anfield’s away dressing room. Victor Orta hugged anyone that moved; players, staff, whoever. Jesse Marsch let it all flow, consciously trying not to steal the moment. Nobody could have made Marsch believe it as the walls closed in on him last week but sometimes, very occasionally, football is perfect. Leeds head to Liverpool for an inevitable defeat and turn up their first win there in 21 years, the first time Virgil van Dijk has ever lost a league match at Anfield in red. Rene Maric, Marsch’s assistant, tells Crysencio Summerville that he will score tonight, and who is there to prod in with a minute of normal time to play, only his second senior goal in England and the day before his 21st birthday? One minute Marsch is on the brink, the next his demise is far less certain than death and taxes. So it goes. Marsch looked ti

Whites boss Jesse Marsch faced a different question about his job as Leeds United head coach after Saturday’s superb win at Liverpool – but batted it away by insisting that his “people” mattered more. By Lee Sobot Marsch’s side approached Saturday night’s clash at Anfield having failed to win in their last eight games, six of which had ended in defeat. A return of just two points from a last possible 24 had left Leeds in the Premier League’s relegation zone and Marsch facing increasingly frequent questions from the media about his role as Whites head coach. Leeds, though, produced a fine display in Saturday night’s clash at Anfield and ended their awful run in style by recording a 2-1 victory thanks to Crysencio Summerville’s 89th-minute winner. Rodrigo had earlier put Leeds in front in the fourth minute only for Mo Salah to equalise ten minutes later. Asked how much pressure the performance and result had lifted personally, Marsch reasoned: “I don't know. I am just happy for

By Ali Humayun Jesse Marsch believes Leeds United’s shock win over Liverpool can help “stop the bleeding”. Leeds recorded their first victory at Anfield since 2001 when Crysencio Summerville scored a dramatic late winner to stun Liverpool 2-1. It followed a tough run of nine games without a win for Leeds and Marsch, which included a 3-2 defeat at home to Fulham last weekend, despite leading. And the American believes it can be a springboard for his side. Marsch said: “At 1-1 we talked that last week, when it was close, that we were more waiting to lose than pushing to win. The best part was you saw real resolve at 1-1. “The mentality to push and stay in the match was really strong. “It was necessary to stop the bleeding. I’m really happy. “We have to use this to launch ourselves. It makes next weekend (when Leeds face Bournemouth) really important back at Elland Road.” Marsch was asked if any pressure had lifted on his side and said: “I don’t know. I’m just happy for

Andrea Radrizzani has reacted to Leeds United’s massive win at Liverpool. By Paul Clarke Andrea Radrizzani didn't wait long to share his thoughts after a critical win for Jesse Marsch and Leeds United as they snatched a late success at Liverpool on Saturday evening. The Whites led inside four minutes after Rodrigo found the back of the net before Mohamed Salah equalised just ten minutes later. But Leeds held their own at Anfield and shocked the hosts when Crysencio Summerville scored a dramatic late winner to see the Whites move out of the relegation zone. Leeds' owner Radrizzani took to Twitter virtually immediately and hit back at the criticism of recent performances, which included the Whites' 3-2 loss at home to Fulham last time out. Radrizzani tweeted: "We were not rubbish last week and we are not champions tonight. It s a long journey , working and improving TOGETHER 💛💙 game by game , as always have been in these 6 years since I had the honour to join

Leeds United ended a horrible run of eight games without a win by sealing a brilliant 2-1 victory at Saturday evening's Premier League hosts Liverpool as Crysencio Summerville bagged an 89th-minute winner. By Lee Sobot Jesse Marsch’s side went ahead in just the fourth minute after a gift from the Reds left Rodrigo with a tap-in. Defender Joe Gomez looked to play a simple back pass to keeper Alisson from the right flank but Alisson lost his footing trying to collect the wayward effort and Rodrigo could not miss from close range. Liverpool drew level just ten minutes later as Leeds failed to deal with two crosses, the second of which from Andy Robertson looped towards the back post before being prodded home by Mo Salah. Both teams then had chances to bag the game's third goal and Brenden Aaronson’s volley from close range smashed back off the crossbar. Leeds bossed the start of the second half as Patrick Bamford was brought on to replace Rodrigo but Illan Meslier saved th

Liverpool 1-2 Leeds: Summerville 89th-minute winner lifted the pressure on Jesse Marsch as the Reds lost back-to-back games against teams in the bottom three Richard Jolly There are reasons why Crysencio Summerville has no memories of Leeds’ previous win at Anfield. For starters, he was not born. Some 21 years after Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer delivered a triumph for David O’Leary’s team, the 20-year-old conjured a victory that did not just make history. It made his manager’s position more secure and Liverpool’s stuttering, spluttering start to the season still worse. Both Jesse Marsch and Leeds had said he retained the board’s backing in a troubled time, but it is easier for their powerbrokers to endorse the American after a run of four successive defeats was halted with a stirring, stunning win. The supporters who had barracked Marsch at Leicester backed his side and a hugely committed display came with an unexpected reward: Summerville reacted quickest when the ball bounced o

Ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Anfield on Saturday evening, Jesse Marsch admitted his side had not been “seizing the moment” in recent games. They certainly wrote that wrong against Liverpool. By Ben McKenna After a string of remarkable saves from Illan Meslier in the second half, and with the scores locked at 1-1, Crysencio Summerville popped up to give Leeds their first Premier League win since August 21 with a goal in the 89th minute. Willy Gnonto, on for his debut, worked the space to find a cross to Patrick Bamford who knocked it to Summerville who was the coolest man in Anfield to find the bottom corner. Incredible scenes of celebration followed from the away supporters while the United bench was on the pitch. This was a release of months of frustration for Leeds. They had not won in eight games prior to their victory in Liverpool. In some of those fixtures that had been unlucky to come away as the losing side. In a frantic first half, both sides had chances to add to

By Phil Hay For those Leeds United players who are not about to find out what winter in Qatar is like, the World Cup break had the sound of the summer about it. First, Jesse Marsch would give them two weeks off. Then, if the administrative pieces of a tour fell into place, they would head to California and a part of the globe where the cold is never too severe. Leeds and Marsch have been mapping out November and December for a while, anticipating that the English season halting so early and unusually would leave them feeling dormant. What harm in a fortnight away if Leeds don’t play again until after Christmas? If friendlies were necessary, and friendlies will be necessary, then the States was as good a place to play as anywhere else. A few Mexican clubs were offering to provide opposition. Get up to speed, visit the turf of the club’s minority shareholder in San Francisco, a few boxes ticked. Then came the heat, the burn of poor form, and the luxury of being free and easy while

By Phil Hay One of the quirks of Marcelo Bielsa’s influence, or one of the biggest endorsements of it, was that people who grew up hating Leeds United found themselves wanting what Leeds United had. Life at Leeds was romantic. Life at Leeds was cultural and real, a dreamy mix money cannot buy unless you spend your money on Bielsa. Looking in from the outside, what else to do but admire it? Leeds, as it happens, are the last fanbase who remotely care about anyone adopting them as their second club but with Bielsa in vogue, the Don Revie tropes that usually followed the club around were replaced by envious glances from those who would have readily taken what Leeds fell upon. His effect was the opposite of the half-and-half scarf, seductive football without manufactured hype. Football as it was intended. You find yourself thinking about Leeds’ vision back then, at the high water mark of the middle of 2021 before the wind blew cold and the club reverted to type. There were tangible a

By Phil Hay The vibes from the Elland Road boardroom are transmitted by the programme column of its chief executive and this weekend, Angus Kinnear was looking for solace in the Premier League’s season break for the World Cup. That, he said, would let Leeds United “return in December to build on a firm foundation” and if it sounded like a club limping through a storm then the game that ensued reiterated that message. A firmer foundation in December would be nice but any sort of foundation here and now would be good. —. Jesse Marsch, their head coach, wants to mastermind the fightback but in the stands and in the streets, there are fewer and fewer people who see this ending well for him; few who think he is not part of the problem. It went sour for him at Leicester City last Thursday, with vitriol that sounded like the point of no return for a manager. The away crowd was lost and parts of the home crowd followed on Sunday as Fulham won 3-2 at Elland Road and made everyone look

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says there is an element of confusion when assessing Leeds United’s recent run and is preparing for a Whites side that can cause “massive problems” at Anfield. By Lee Sobot Jesse Marsch’s team are heading to Merseyside having failed to win in their last eight league games, six of which have ended in defeat for a haul of just two points from a last possible 24. Klopp, though, insists the initial thought that Leeds are in a “bad moment” is wrong and the Reds boss has fired a strong warning about what he expects from United in Saturday’s 7.45pm kick-off. Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, Klopp was asked if Leeds being sat third-bottom was an example of a bunched up and competitive Premier League and explained: “For different reasons, I didn’t think about the general situation of the Premier league. "Now for a while I was more busy with thinking about us. I don't know 100 per cent but I saw Leeds now, I saw them anyway playing, bu

Jesse Marsch has fired a strong warning to his Leeds United players ahead of Saturday night's enormous clash at “lethal” Liverpool, insisting he is determined to find out who can withstand the pressure. By Lee Sobot Marsch knows the heat is on himself and his club in a big way following a run of eight games without a victory and a haul of just two points from a last possible 24. The awful return has left Leeds in the Premier League's relegation zone and United’s American head coach admits his third-bottom team are now travelling to face one of the "best teams in the world" in Saturday night’s hosts Liverpool. The Whites boss has declared that Jurgen Klopp's Reds have no weaknesses but Marsch has outlined United's necessary Anfield game plan and is now looking for the players who can fulfil it. “We know Leeds United is a big club," said Marsch. "I’ve learned that first hand. I knew that before I came but I’ve learned so much more since living he

Marsch is fighting for his Elland Road future after an eight-game winless run. Mark Walker Leeds United’s under-fire boss Jesse Marsch claims the Premier League table is not a fair reflection of his side’s performances this season. Marsch is fighting for his Elland Road future after an eight-game winless run has seen Leeds plummet into the relegation zone. A section of fans have called for him to be sacked, but before Saturday’s daunting trip to Liverpool the 48-year-old American, who insists he still has the board’s backing, has come out fighting. Marsch said: “If we go game to game and you look at the fact we haven’t won in eight games based on how we’ve performed over the eight games, it’s almost impossible to believe that two points is all that we’ve earned. “But that’s our reality right, in those eight games and all the phases in those games? What if Luis (Sinisterra) scores at Brighton on the two-inch line and it doesn’t go wide? “What if we score the penalty agains

Jesse Marsch is sick of Leeds United losing games they should not but says his annoyance is with himself, not his players. By Stuart Rayner The Whites have not won since August, an eight-game run featuring just two draws. Their next game is at Liverpool on Saturday night. The American claims the run is like nothing he has experienced and can with some justification claim Leeds deserved better in a number of those matches if only their finishing or defending had been sharper. He admits he is searching for the right characters to deal with the pressure Leeds have put themselves under by dropping into the Premier League relegation zone. "I'm actually kind of angry right now," he admitted. "I'm tired of playing matches where we're in the match and in many cases better than the opponent and walking away with nothing. "I'm tired of not capitalising on moments when we're the better team and I'm tired of giving away goals too cheaply. And

Jesse Marsch gave his thoughts to the media ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Liverpool, at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. The Whites will head to Anfield looking to end a run of matches without picking up points, against Jurgen Klopp’s side who are also aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League after losing last time out. As always, the head coach began with an update on the fitness of his squad, prior to the weekend. He said: “Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw are still out. “In addition, questionable are Leo Hjelde and then Joffy [Joe Gelhardt], Rodrigo, Luis [Sinisterra] and Tyler Adams are all a bit in question. “We’ll see how the next 48 hours goes for all of those players." Prior to any further matches being played this weekend, the Reds currently sit in eighth place in the table, with four wins from 11 matches played up to now. Despite the unusual form of Saturday’s hosts, everyone in the Leeds United camp knows the challenge o

A section of Leeds fans have called for Marsch to go after seeing their side slip into the Premier League relegation zone Mark Walker Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch claims he retains the support of the club’s board following a series of meetings this week. A section of Leeds fans have called for Marsch to go after seeing their side slip into the Premier League relegation zone, while a trip to Liverpool awaits on Saturday as they bid to halt an eight-game winless run. Marsch said: “They (the board) have been very supportive. I’ve spoken with Angus (Kinnear, chief executive), Andrea (Radrizzani, chairman) and Victor (Orta, director of football) multiple times. “We’ve done a few things, we’re modifying our World Cup schedule to think about how we can maximise what we need in the moment, everything from matches to where we are travelling for training. “We’ve talked about adding staff, we’re looking carefully at things like psychologists and adding to the complexity of what we’r

BILLY BRENDO Written by: Rob Conlon Jesse Marsch and the board’s insistence that the Red Bull handbook promotes the proudest qualities of Leeds United’s history — grit, fight, intensity — misses the point. For all Don Revie’s Leeds team were up for a scrap with anyone who dared to start with them, the opposition only resorted to such desperation because they were so frustrated by being played off the park by Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, Eddie Gray and co. While Leeds are locked in an energy drink induced existential crisis, Brenden Aaronson’s hopes of becoming a “legend” at Elland Road sound nothing more than the wishful thinking of an American dreamer. But the Yank Badger probably didn’t realise that for a brief moment in the defeat to Fulham he was subconsciously channelling the spirit of Bremner. Trying to backheel a bouncing ball over a defence probably isn’t something Marsch is asking his players to practise in training. After Aaronson attempted the trick against Fulham, t