Now motivator Marsch needs a miracle from Mother Teresa

IT IS no wonder Jesse Marsch cited Mother Teresa as one of his great inspirations. Because the way things are looking for his Leeds side, they are starting to need the sort of miracle the saint is said to have performed. Perhaps it is her charitable nature Marsch most admires. For the Whites have certainly mastered the art of giving their opponents a helping hand. Against Arsenal last Sunday, they gifted the hosts a fifth-minute opener and were down to 10 men in the 27th minute after Luke Ayling’s reckless twofooted tackle. Last night, they outdid that. Chelsea scored after four minutes and Daniel James saw red in the 24th minute for a wild, studs-up lunge. It would have made Mother Teresa wince. Whatever words of wisdom Marsch used before kick-off last night, they spectacularly backfired again. At the Emirates, Marsch recited Mahatma Gandhi in his team talk, as revealed by winger Jack Harrison after the game. Before this visit of Chelsea, Marsch admitted he has a book of quotes he uses on players, referencing Gandhi, Mother Teresa and John F Kennedy. While an honest answer to a question, those comments went down like a lead balloon with Leeds fans, who want less talk and more results from their new American manager.

In another recent interview, Marsch talked up his aim to have Leeds competing for European football within three years. But right now, the Whites look destined for the Championship not the Champions League. It was only two months ago that Marsch was celebrating here after a stoppage-time winner against Norwich. They then came from two goals down to win at Wolves thanks to another last-minute goal. Their unbeaten run stretched to five games and it seemed for all the money that Marsch was going to steer Leeds to safety. But things have imploded since then and many Leeds supporters are resigned to relegation. Not that you would know it in the stands. After Mason Mount put Chelsea ahead, home fans responded with a deafening chant of, ‘We all love Leeds’. For all their doubts about Marsch and their anger with the board, these fans are doing everything in their power to keep their team in the Premier League. If only the same could be said of the players.