Quick Marsch or it’s down to the Ell of Championship
NEW Leeds manager Jesse Marsch insists he has not been traumatised by his welcome to Ell.
Fans launched into deafening chants in support of sacked boss Marcelo Bielsa as Marsch’s first home game ended in a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Thursday night.
And the American knows he will run the gauntlet again if there is no sign that
Leeds can win their looming relegation battle when his side entertain Norwich at Elland Road.
Marsch was axed by RB Leipzig in December after winning just eight of his 21 games in charge of the Bundesliga club.
But he said: “Firstly, I have learnt in this business not to take anything personally.
“I am tasked with a job to do. I understand part of it is managing fans and their opinion of me and the team.
“But the best way I can do it is make the team perform in the ways that I know they can. These are where I direct my effort.
“I can only say, when I interact with fans, I find the people here very kind and warm.
“That can change if the team doesn’t perform. I am very aware of that – but I am OK with that too.
“I came here knowing what the reality is, so my focus is entirely on getting the team to play.
“I do realise that public opinion has an effect on players’ confidence and I have to manage that.
“When I am asked what I can say to the fans, I try to paint a picture as to who I am and how I manage and I hope the fans can respond to that.
“The most important thing is that the players are clear on game day and they show what they can do.”
Leeds have plunged towards the drop zone after picking up a point from their last eight games.
The departure of Bielsa has not been well received by the supporters, even though the Argentine appeared to have run out of ideas and inspiration during his fourth season at the helm.
Marsch was encouraged by the performance in losing 1-0 at Leicester last weekend, but Leeds were demolished by a buoyant Villa.
The 48-year-old former United States international insists the team will only avoid the drop by sticking together.
But the form of inspirational Brazilian winger Raphinha will be a concern.
Raphinha (below) is Leeds’ top scorer with 11 goals, but he has only found the back of the net once in his last 11 appearances.
Marsch said: “I think Raphinha is a special individual and clearly a special player.
“The team is always the most important, but with every individual you have to get to know what makes them tick.
“How do they respond to good things, bad things, negative things?
“I have to get to the core of that. I have had some good interaction and conversations with him.
“His role has changed a bit in terms of what I want him to do tactically, but he’s responded really well.
“He is trying everything he can. But what happens with all of them is it becomes individual instead of it being the collective.
“I like Raphinha a lot. I like his talent and I have had a lot of success working with talented attacking players.
“I will keep working with him to help him understand how he can fit into what we’re doing.”