Energised Marsch certain he will get it right at Leeds

FOR proof that Jesse Marsch retains the backing of the Leeds board, you need only look at the player being paraded around the elland Road pitch tonight. Georginio Rutter will be introduced to fans before the FA Cup third round replay with Cardiff having cost the club a record £35.5million. that is a lot of money to spend for a manager about to be given the bullet. the club have supported Marsch by bringing in players he knows well such as Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Max Wober who all arrived from his former club Red Bull salzburg. Unlike those buys, Marsch has never previously coached Rutter, who is unavailable tonight, but the 20-year-old is a player he has admired for some time. Rutter was Leeds’ No1 January target and his capture is further evidence of Marsch’s close relationship with director of football Victor Orta, the influential spaniard who had long identified him as Marcelo Bielsa’s replacement and hired him 11 months ago. As such, Orta is desperate for his choice of head coach to succeed and it is why Marsch is being given every chance to get it right. ‘I accept the pressures of what is happening in my role at this club right now,’ admitted Marsch. ‘But I am doing everything I can, and we are doing everything we can together, and we believe in this project. I think that is clear with the transfers we make. It is showing unity.’

Last Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa led to chants of ‘Marsch out’ from some fans who have never fully taken to the American. Yet while Leeds have gone seven games without a win and sit two points above the Premier League relegation zone, there is not the same sense of panic which saw Bielsa sacked. Around the training ground, insiders say the mood remains

upbeat. Club chiefs have been impressed with the fight the team showed to claim a point against West ham, and again to come back from two goals down and draw at Cardiff. even in defeat at Villa, the performance encouraged the elland Road hierarchy. ‘My belief is higher than it has ever been. And more importantly, the players are in the same position,’ Marsch said. ‘I’m more energised and stronger in my belief than I’ve ever been that we are going to be a good team — and soon.’ All that said, Marsch knows this is still a big week. Being knocked out of the FA Cup by a Championship side would be a devastating blow. And a home defeat on sunday by Brentford would increase the pressure. ‘We need another complete performance, we need conviction, we need a win,’ added Marsch about tonight’s Cardiff tie. ‘I hate being results based, but that’s where we are.’