There might not be a murderball session this Wednesday.
But if Leeds United succeed in landing Jesse Marsch as replacement manager for the sacked Marcelo Bielsa, the squad will still have to deliver the same degree of physical dedication to justify their place in a Whites shirt.
The American is favourite to replace Bielsa and will be tasked with hauling Leeds away from the relegation zone and the petrifying prospect of another stint outside the top flight.
It is a sign of how seriously owners Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises are taking the threat of relegation that they were willing to axe the man that got Leeds back to the Promised Land.
More on Premier League
But in Marsch, the always Bielsa-loyal Leeds fans may discover a new idol to worship.
The 48-year-old is the No 1 choice at Elland Road after suffering the first setback to his promising managerial career that truly took off eight years ago at New York Red Bulls.
Until December, Marsch’s managerial trajectory had known no bounds. A stint as Ralf Rangnick’s assistant at RB Leipzig was followed by a trophy-laden two-year spell managing Red Bull Salzburg, before he headed back to Leipzig for a disastrous 21-game spell in place of Julian Nagelsmann, which ended in his sacking before Christmas last year.
Until December, Marsch’s managerial trajectory had known no bounds. A stint as Ralf Rangnick’s assistant at RB Leipzig was followed by a trophy-laden two-year spell managing Red Bull Salzburg, before he headed back to Leipzig for a disastrous 21-game spell in place of Julian Nagelsmann, which ended in his sacking before Christmas last year.
Marsch is understood to be keen on getting back into management and the Leeds project is attractive. US firm 49ers Enterprises owns a 44 per cent stake in the club and could soon buy out Radrizzani.
There was already talk of Marsch replacing Bielsa when the latter’s contract ended in the summer. Necessity has meant that this natural succession is brought forward a few months.
And Leeds fans will see shades of Bielsa in Marsch.
Tactically the American offers a similar approach – not quite the gung ho style Bielsa is famous for, but he requires the same level of dedication to the project.
Forward units are expected to press en masse, to force opposition defences into panic and pick up the pieces. His exuberance on the touchline will get the Kop roaring too.
Philosophically both Marsch and Bielsa get results championing hard work and mental fortitude over footballing quality. But the American is perhaps more pragmatic than that man he is expected to succeed.
Indeed, the immediate change Marsch should bring to this Leeds team is in its man-marking style. Bielsa challenged each one of his players to win the one-on-one battle with their opposite number. Do this and Leeds would blow opponents away. But fail and games would be lost within the first 20 minutes.
The loss of Bamford’s muscular pressing and hold-up play, and Phillips’ cross-midfield dynamism, in recent months meant Leeds could rarely maintain Bielsa’s system over 90 minutes.
Marsch, in contrast, is likely to favour a more fluid set-up that relies on territory to keep opponents at bay, rather than a strict man-marking regime. This could mean two men up top, switching to a midfield diamond or even going 4-2-2-2.
More on Leeds United FC
It is a different approach but still requires the players to perform greater than the sum of their parts, with fitness at the core.
And that is what Leeds need right now – a change, but not too great, to get them back on course.
from Football | News and analysis from the Premier League and beyond | iNews https://ift.tt/9qa8zjt
Post a Comment