Leeds United board position on under-fire Jesse Marsch made clear ahead of huge Fulham game - YEP 21/10/22
Leeds United have no plans for an immediate change and Jesse Marsch is not yet under significant pressure from Elland Road chiefs, despite a seven-game winless run.
By Graham Smyth
A 2-0 defeat by Leicester City, who were bottom of the
Premier League before Thursday night’s kick-off, prompted boos, chants of
Marcelo Bielsa’s name and anger towards Marsch’s tactics and decisions. The
head coach was also forced to apologise after the game for going straight down
the tunnel at full-time, a decision that caused more ructions in the away end.
Although Marsch insists it is too soon to start thinking or
talking about relegation battles, Leeds find themselves three points off the
bottom of the table, albeit with a game in hand, so Sunday’s game against
Fulham at Elland Road was always going to take on the same must-win feel that
surrounded the Leicester game. Failing to take even a point at the Kingpower
has dialled up the pressure, but only externally according to club sources.
The YEP understands that at board level there remains a
belief in the project and a confidence that Marsch can guide the team to a
positive result this weekend, but regardless they currently have no inclination
to remove the American from his post. Whether Elland Road will be quite so
supportive if things go awry on the pitch against the Cottagers is quite
another matter, though and many a boardroom has been swayed by a stadium’s
temperature.
Simply put, Marsch faces a difficult time of it between now
and a World Cup that was always going to act as a potential fire break for
Premier League owners this season. The unusual mid-season six-week interval
would be ample time for almost any club to replace a manager and get their
affairs in order ahead of the Boxing Day restart. Leeds aren’t yet talking in
such terms but Fulham and Bournemouth at home represent important opportunities
for victories, while trips to Liverpool and Tottenham will provide further
chances for Marsch to prove they’re more competitive this season than last.
Just as goals change and settle games, results change and
settle minds. Marsch will be given time but how much of it is now down to him
and his players.