Leeds United sacked Jesse Marsch this week with the club sitting firmly in a relegation fight in 16th place. It was less than a year after the American’s arrival at Elland Road. Back then, Leeds were in a similar position. However, Marsch helped propel Leeds to survival last season in the Premier League.
However, he failed to implement enough changes to give Leeds more comfort in the English top flight. The problem was that Leeds United was bleeding goals. After 20 games under Marsch, Leeds conceded 34 goals. Only Bournemouth, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City have conceded more goals.
Much of Marsch’s strategy is based on pressing, forcing players under pressure and quickly hitting opponents. That tactic made for exciting games, for sure. Leeds have been to a draw or a one-goal game in six of the last seven Premier League games under Jesse Marsch. The only problem was that Leeds United were not winning these games. A one-goal defeat at Tottenham, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest worsened three ties.
He follows a trend that dates back to his arrival in England. During his almost year in the Premier League, Marsch managed 32 games. He only won eight of those games, drawing nine and losing 15 more. Those points per game of just over one are dismal, even in the closely fought Premier League. Besides, it would be easy to say that Marsch did not have the backing of the Leeds executives. The opposite is true.
Lack of improvement for Leeds United under Jesse Marsch
Leeds made a series of key signings this summer and winter in a bid to help the American coach. Notably, for some circles at least, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson arrived from RB Leipzig and Salzburg, respectively. Marsch, a former manager at both clubs, convinced Leeds to spend more than $50 million on two under-23 Americans.
In all, seven players entered under the supervision of Jesse Marsch who individually cost more than $12 million. Interestingly, the most successful appears to be Wilfried Gnoto, the cheapest of the bunch at just over $5 million.
Georginio Rutter arrived in the winter as the club’s record transfer fee arrival. Like Weston McKennie on loan from Juventus. Of course, those players had limited time to help Marsch save his job.
However, despite spending heavily in the transfer window, Leeds struggled to make a difference. They showed a glimpse early on, picking up seven points in the first three games of the campaign.
However, that could add pressure to the side to perform regularly. Jermaine Beckford, a former player who has played more than 125 games for Leeds, says the pressure may be mounting on young players with high transfer fees.
“When [high transfer fees are] the case, naturally, the pressure comes along with that,” Beckford said on Generation xG, available on Peacock’s Premier League TV channel. “The level of expectation for the performances not only for the results, the goals scored and the excitement of the fans, that level also increases. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.”
Don’t take chances
The main counterattack in Marsch’s favor was that Leeds simply didn’t take a chance. Marsch certainly has something to say on the matter, and finishing can be improved in training. The Generation xG team counted the Leeds game against Nottingham Forest, the last one in charge of Marsch.
In that game, Leeds managed 70% possession, the highest in a Premier League game this season. He had 10 shots in all, with four on target, twice as many as Forest. According to Football Reference, Leeds had an expected goal ratio of 0.9. In other words, he clearly missed his chances.
As said, Marsch is somewhat to blame for that, and that is why the club sacked him in the middle of the season. That’s a common move for clubs in the relegation fight. Five of the six 15-and-under clubs have had management changes this year. The exception is David Moyes at West Ham.
The next manager at Leeds inherits a situation similar to what Marsch had on his arrival at Elland Road. With expensive players in the squad, Leeds don’t have to go back down to the Championship.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
