Speaking on Off The Ball, Leeds United legend, John Giles, has been discussing Jesse Marsch and how he was viewed by the Leeds fanbase.
Marsch has just been sacked as the manager of the Whites, and it’s fair to say that the news of his departure was well-received amongst the supporters.
Giles reckons that Leeds fans never really liked Marsch due to the fact he came in and critiqued Marcelo Bielsa’s methods, stating that players were overtrained during his time at the club.
Marsch criticised Bielsa
Giles gave his theory on why Leeds fans didn’t like Marsch all that much.
“I think he made a big mistake early on when he came in and he was very critical of Mr Bielsa who was beloved by the Leeds fans. That didn’t do him any good whatsoever,”
“I don’t think the fans took to Marsch and he made a mistake there. I heard the interview and it wasn’t good. He said that as soon as he came in he could see the players were overtrained and that led to injuries. He might not have realised, but Bielsa was loved by Leeds fans. I don’t think they liked that and they haven’t forgotten about it.”
No favours
Marsch certainly didn’t do himself any favours with these comments at the time.
Replacing Bielsa would have been an uphill task for any manager. The Argentine was a firm fan favourite at Elland Road, and there always would have been a bit of kickback against his replacement.
However, to criticise Bielsa’s training early on was quite tone deaf by Marsch, and as Giles says, first impressions stick.
Marsch’s time at Leeds is over, and, sadly, he probably won’t be remembered too fondly in Yorkshire.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
