QATAR VERY MUCH

World Cup just what Marsch doesn’t need mid-season

JESSE MARSCH has warned his Leeds stars the lure of playing in the World Cup must not distract them from their Premier League campaign.

USA internationals Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams (right) could make the plane to Qatar, while there are plenty of other Leeds players vying for contention.

Rasmus Kristensen (Denmark), Mateusz Klich (Poland), Robin Koch (Germany), Illan Meslier (France), Dan James (Wales), Patrick Bamford (England) and Spain duo Rodrigo and Diego Llorente could also feature.

Attacking midfielder

Aaronson has been particularly impressive since joining from Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg – where he played under Marsch – earlier this summer for around £22million.

Motivated

Ahead of Leeds’ game against hated rivals Chelsea today, Marsch said:

“Clearly, Brenden is motivated for a role with the national team, but I think he is just laser-focused on establishing himself here.

“All of our players, who are trying to establish themselves at the World Cup, the better they do here, the better chances they have of making their national team – they all know that. Brenden has been fantastic and his adaptation and his intelligence is at a very high level.

“When you look at him, he looks like he weighs about 50 kilos and he’s not the fastest or strongest guy on the pitch.

“But he finds a way in almost every moment to gain an edge and that has so much to do with his work rate, his intelligence and his adaptability.” The Premier League will go into hibernation for the World Cup after the weekend of November 12/13 and resume again on December 26 for the traditional Boxing Day fixtures.

But Marsh insisted: “I do not have one eye on the World Cup. “I have total focus on every day here, but obviously we have to always have an overview of what’s happening.

“It means that we know the players within the squad who have the potential to go to the World Cup have the motivation to do well here.

Challenge

“It helps them, but if you didn’t know them, you would never be able to pick out which guys are selfishly focused that way. Even after just two games, we know, as a team, that every match is a massive challenge.

“If there is any distraction or lack of concentration, then we are done.”

Marsch admits to being inspired by Leeds’ illustrious past as he bids to return the Yorkshire giants to former glories. The American added: “In my hometown, we had

English people from Leeds who came to run soccer camps.

“They were Leeds United fans and they gave us jerseys.

“And then, when I became a professional player, I remembered the Leeds teams who played in the Champions League.

“I also remember hearing Gordon Strachan speak about Leeds and I have probably been given 25 books as gifts from fans and none of the books is the same.

“They’re in my office and, more than anything, I love seeing all the photos of the trophies that the club has won.

“It’s a reminder of the standard we’re trying to create.

“And when I’m coming into work early, I’m always picturing the trophies and our captain holding them aloft.”