‘CITY MUST SEE OUR PESKY SIDE’
BY
JESSE MARSCH wants Leeds to be “annoying” and “pesky” for Manchester City today.
Marsch (left) knows how irritating opponents can be for teams competing for the league from his time with New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg.
But the roles are reversed for the Leed boss at Elland Road and he has called on his players to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side.
“I’m used to being at the other end of the spectrum, fighting for the title,” said Marsch. “I know a lot of time, playing against the relegation sides, it can be a pesky match. That’s our job on the day to make the match pesky for Man City.
“We need to be annoying, but dangerous as well. The pragmatism of understanding that we have to be aggressive but knowing where, why and how to be.”
Marsch does not expect City chief
Guardiola to make many changes with one eye on their Champions League return in Real Madrid on Wednesday, because Liverpool are chasing them so hard in the title race.
“It’s a massive goal of theirs to win the Champions League or at least get to the final,” he added.
“But how can you compare that with winning the league? If they have a slip-up in the league, the title is in jeopardy.
“I expect a good team on the pitch with a mentality to make sure they do everything they can to get a result. It’s the ultimate test and I’m very honest when I say they are the best team in the world.”
Leeds are desperate for a result to help preserve their Premier League status and City is the first of a daunting run of games followed by Arsenal and
Chelsea.
But Marsch refuses to look too far ahead, or overthink Leeds’ position.
“It’s important to take it game by game,” he said.
“If we do that, we give ourselves the best chance.
“We haven’t waivered yet and we can’t. We have to stay strong, believe in how we do things and keep pushing forward every day.
“I don’t have the energy to think about the table or how other teams are doing, or what it’s going to look like at the end of the season. I assumed from the very second I took the job, that I would be knee deep in everything until May 22 and it will stay that way.”