Leeds United

Leeds United

Championship

Under-pressure Jesse Marsch pinpoints exactly what he must change as ‘stress’ rises after Leeds loss to Nottingham Forest

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch

Jesse Marsch is taking responsibility for the difficulties Leeds United have been facing in terms of turning performances into results after their latest defeat.

Leeds failed to put any distance between themselves and the relegation zone when they lost to Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon. Brennan Johnson scored the only goal of the game inside the opening quarter of an hour.

In the Premier League, Leeds remain winless since before the World Cup. Having last won a league game on November 5, they are now on a run of seven matches without victory in the competition.

As such, they are level on points with 18th-placed Everton, hovering just above them and therefore the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference. Admittedly, Leeds have played a game fewer than most of the teams around them.

But with a double header against Manchester United coming up, before battles with Everton and fellow relegation rivals Southampton, February is shaping up to be a make-or-break month for Marsch and Leeds.

Pressure is growing on the American manager, who has freshly admitted he is feeling the heat.

Marsch told BBC Sport: “I feel like we were the better team. We were on top from the beginning and we created lots of chances. The first time down the pitch they get a goal.

“We are struggling to turn performances into results and we’ve been in this place for a while. It’s hard for me to accept and it’s frustrating. And I’ve got to find ways to change that feeling and find ways to get the results we think we deserve.

“We lost discipline a little bit and guys started running all over the place. We didn’t stick to the tactical plan as we wanted to.

“In general we are struggling to get the results we feel like we deserve.

“The work and commitment on the inside has been good but from a result perspective it puts stress on the environment. I have to take responsibility on that and I do.”

Jesse Marsch still has faith in Leeds squad

It is fair to say the Leeds squad has been constructed in Marsch’s image over the past couple of transfer windows.

Hence, he insists he still believes in the players he has at his disposal as they aim to avoid relegation to the Championship.

“I believe in these guys, I believe in their character and work rate and quality. I have to find ways to make them better.

“Obviously we know what the table situation is. The frustrating thing is to just let opponent after opponent after opponent slip away. We’ve got to change that dialogue.

“We’ve got to become more winners instead of finding ways to lose. That’s basically now my responsibility.”

Leeds will be away at Old Trafford to take on Man Utd on Wednesday.

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