Jesse Marsch makes promise to Leeds fans ahead of huge Fulham ‘fight’ but insists ‘vibe’ is good
Under-fire Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has declared his players will ‘do whatever it takes’ to win Sunday’s home Premier League clash with Fulham.
A section of travelling Leeds fans turned on Marsch’s side after Thursday night’s 2-0 defeat at Leicester left them winless in seven matches and only out of the bottom three on goal difference.
But speaking ahead of the game with the Cottagers at Elland Road, Marsch was in a typically bullish mode.
The American said: “We need to use the pressure in a way to motivate us to be clear. The clarity of what exactly the game will need will be the most important thing.
“I know they’ll be ready to run and fight and do whatever it takes. I know they have that and then it’s just making sure they do it in a way that helps us win the match.”
Leeds took seven points from their first three matches. However, their promising start has faded badly and frustration is mounting on the terraces.
A section of travelling fans booed them off the field at the King Power Stadium against a struggling Leicester, who climbed off the foot of the table.
Bielsa calls fail to deter current Leeds boss
Chants for former head coach Marcelo Bielsa rang out from the away end. However, Marsch insisted post-match that he was not angry with his players.
“No no,” he said. “It’s about shaping them to understand that we have to stop the bleeding. What can I say to them after this match? Everyone’s crushed.
“So I have to find a way to keep them strong and to keep them believing in what we’re doing.
“I think the work has been good from every perspective, from my staff, from our physical team. We don’t have a lot of injuries, we have a lot of guys who are ready to go.
“I don’t think individual performances were terrible, I think we just need collectively to still find a way to manage moments and in both boxes take care of what we need to take care of.”
Marsch could ring changes again
Marsch made several eye-opening selection decisions at Leicester, despite his side giving leaders Arsenal a big scare in last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat.
Junior Firpo made his first appearance of the season at left-back in place of the injured Pascal Struijk. Crysencio Summerville was also preferred to the normally reliable Jack Harrison on the wing.
Skipper Liam Cooper was also named among the substitutes, with Diego Llorente starting at centre-back instead.
Marsch added: “From a leadership and football perspective, I’m trying to analyse everything without over-analysing, that’s the key.
“You can get stuck in a circle if you start thinking about every little detail.
“The vibe and the mood has been good, but now we’ve got to dig deep and do what we can for Sunday.”
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