Jesse Marsch: "Stuart had a procedure done this week, and then he had another visit to the doctor and they think he's doing really well, really well. So we're all optimistic and that this procedure will help him I'd still say he's a couple months away from being on the pitch but he's moving really well in the right direction. Archie is healing well hopefully, out of a boot and will start training soon as well. Forshaw had surgery yesterday and he'll be out for about a month, but they feel good about the procedure and hopefully he'll be back soon. Leo Hjelde had an appendectomy two days ago so he was in the hospital. He's at home now and they think that might take a few weeks. Everyone else is ready to go.".
It's your second game in 37 days, it seems quite incredible that you'd have such a long period of time without matches. How do you manage the squad in this difficult time where you're trying to keep their levels their fitness there but without the game on a Saturday you lose that intensity?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, we felt that first half was a decent half for us, but that we did look a little bit rusty and hesitant at times. Then obviously we went down a man and we thought that the team fought really hard and preserve the result in the situation and had a we had a kind of a half chance at the end with Klichy and maybe we could have another day gotten away with more, but but the spirit and the mentality of this group is always very strong. In general, we've used it to get guys healthy to really focus on making sure that we're still fit and strong and ready to continue to keep pushing.
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And then you know, we've continued to build on some tactical nuances so that the team is more sophisticated and clearer with exactly what is necessary. So the one thing is, you know, in the last few years, I've worked in jobs where we're in Champions League, Europa League, and you don't get full weeks to prepare for matches and it's nice to be here where we can really have a good work week. And we know that going down to Palace will be very difficult. And we've tried to focus now on exactly what's necessary for what this match will be."
You're without a win in four Premier League matches. You had a brilliant start to the season, things have just tailed off how important is it that you pick up three points and change that mindset in that mentality back to a team that's looking at the table as opposed to last season behind you?
JM: "No, I mean, when you - it was a similar feeling last week, you know, the difference between three points and zero points. Can mean a lot, in the table in at the moment there's really compact and I think a lot of the mid table teams are very close to each other. We know there's a lot of quality in this league but certainly the competitive nature of trying to be a mid table team and not a bottom table team is is is very high. And so for us. You know, I think we just tried to stay focused in the moment and in each match and we know that if we do that effectively that we can do the best we can to control what the outcomes are. So yeah, I know again, I have a lot of respect for Palace. I think Patrick Vieira is a fantastic manager. They have a really talented team. We know them well and we'll be ready."
Where do you think they could cause you the most problems you've touched upon the talents they have and a lot of young youthful energy as well with some of the experience in Wilfried Zaha, down on the left hand side where do you think their biggest threats will go?
JM: "Well, I think Zaha is number one. He's very good footballer and he's incredible in transition. He's very clever around the goal and can score with both feet. So but you know, when if you pay too much attention to him and Edouard can have a big match Matete, you Olise, Eze, you have Ayew - you have so much tracking talent on this team. So we know that one v one duels will be important in managing some of their dribblers and some of their individual talent. But we will need to manage specifically when we have the ball to make sure that they're not getting out of transition and hurting us, so big task of the day for the entire team, not just the defending group but we feel like we've created a good match. The guys will be ready."
You spoken about Wilfried Zaha there are you're aware that his record isn't particularly great against Leeds?
JM: "No, I didn't know. "
I think he's no goal, no goals in nine games.
JM: "Don't say that. But he's a great player. Very dangerous attacking threat. So it'll be important that we address him.
Crystal Palace haven't played well but home this season, just one win in four matches. What are you expecting in terms of the atmosphere, the environment and clearly with someone like Patrick at the helm? He will be able to get that team up for a game like this that can be so definitive for both your seasons.
JM: "When you talk about Palace I think you need to talk about the opponents they've had. They played against Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, you know, so even when I, when we played them in Australia and I looked at their schedule the beginning of the year to see what they were in for, I knew that that was going to be a tough phase. And if you ask me, I think they played pretty well through that phase. Even when you look at the data and statistics, you can be fooled a little bit by what their games have been like just because their opponents have been so good. So it's a hostile environment down there. And remember from last year, we somehow got out with a nil-nil draw last year. Very difficult. They unbalanced us almost the entire match. And we have to be better we have to be we have to defend with the same kind of mentality but tactically we have to be much cleaner in what we want out of the match in order to find a way to get a result.
Jesse just on the team news Cody Drameh picked up a knock him in midweek for the Under-21s Is he okay?
JM: "Yeah, he's okay. He's fully healthy."
Luis Sinisterra is suspended for a game. What's your thinking about how you replacement who were because you've got a lot of form guys in the front for the moment including some of the guys that are already here?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, first of all, we feel like Crysencio Summerville is in his best form since I've been here. So, he certainly becomes a factor from the start or off the bench. We've had moments where Patrick [Bamford] and Rodrigo have both been healthy, looked at both of them on the pitch together. Having Willy [Gnonto] here, we want to find ways to get him going and for me, Joffy [Gelhardt] made a fantastic point to his manager in the Tranmere game, that he should not be left out of the squad. I thought he played really well and he was very dangerous. Joffy will be a factor in this game as well. We still have some attacking prowess but we'll miss Luis [Sinisterra] that's the reality."
How difficult a decision is it to play Patrick upfront, with Rodrigo in behind or use one of the other guys?
JM: "There's a lot of these discussions. Even when Coops was coming back, how do we use Diego [Llorente]? We still value him a lot. What we're doing with Luke [Ayling] and Rasmus [Kristensen] and there's a lot of competition within the squad. I think that's a healthy thing and I think the best part we have here is, I think the players manage it where they come and train hard every day and they try to make a point if they're not in the squad, or not in the line-up, that the manager has made a mistake, but they always do it in a way that's respectful of the team and each other. I'm very thankful to have that kind of team and group. They're tough decisions but even if you're not in the 11, the most important thing is that you're ready to come in and make an impact off the bench.
"I think the best example of that has been Klichy. He hasn't had many starts this year but every time we've called on him off the bench I think he's been fantastic. We need that kind of mentality and that kind of group and we have that."
Where is Junior Firpo at the moment? Is he not ready to start at the moment?
JM: "I think you know, first of all, we're still trying to get Junior fully healthy and fit and everything and the nice part is that Pascal has played so well in that position. I think Pascal has been one of our best players at the start of the season and it's allowed us to be more patient and try to get Junior physically and physically right so that he can perform at a high level."
Palace has struggled to get defenders fit in recent weeks. Do you see this as a really big chance that continues to go and get the first three points on the road?
JM: "I don't - in this league with the teams that you play. Obviously most managers have somewhat in their mind what a best 11 is. But what I've learned is when some of these best 11 options aren't available the normally the options that teams have on the bench are not a big drop off. We even learned that last week with Aston Villa right, they defended pretty well against us with with a sort of makeshift backline as well. So Anderson and I think is a very good player. It's not certain whether he'll be available or not. Clyne being out is obviously also a regular for them. But I know that if it's Ward that needs to step in, if it's Tomkins that needs to step in whoever they have that I know they'll get good quality and good performances.
Finally with reference to teams that are trying to kill the game or time waste or whatever. Have you had any more discussions with officials this week since the last game?
JM: "Yeah, we tried to have some open dialogue with the officials and and with the league. And I think that the discourse was helpful, and I think that people are aligned, that it's not great for the game to have the the time wasting and so I think they'll try to make adjustments. But one of the things I said is our next home matches against Arsenal, and I highly doubt that we'll see that. So, but right now the focus is on Palace, but I appreciate this. At the very least I appreciate that that people have been open to the dialogue and the discussion in a good way. So hopefully, it'll make a difference.
You mentioned Sinisterra and it being a bad miss for you, it was an avoidable sending off, wasn't it last week? I think you would agree.
JM: "Yeah."
What do you do to to education to sort of get rid of the naivety perhaps during the course of the week?
JM: "Well, we actually we kind of used it as an example, among other examples in the match, where we felt that we could have been a little bit more intelligent and a little more savvy at times and this. Listen we have a young team, we have, I think, the second youngest squad in the in the Premier, and we like our group. I think we've built a team that that we're guys are here for long term where there is a young group that I think can develop and grow and continue to get better. And I've coached young players a lot and I find that you have to be patient at times. It's brutal sometimes to be patient, right? It's not easy as a manager to be patient. But I think that we're going to continue to help this team grow in every way. And that's that's my job. My job is to help educate them to, you know, help them understand what their roles are to help them mature and develop. And we still have, in terms of that savviness, we have more to do but we'll get better in that sense. Luis specifically, you know, he knew it was a mistake, he was apologetic. I said he's an important guy that we're all with him or we're all behind him. And that it's important to learn from those moments so that you don't get put in those kinds of situations."
You're easing Patrick Bamford back in. Is this a perfect game for him because he had an unhappy time at Crystal Palace?
JM: "I'm aware of that. And and I think Patrick is fitter and he's trained well this week, and I think he's ready to go. So I think there's a high likelihood that he'll be ready for the start.
How much of a matter of personal pride is taking place attractive, important to you is that?
JM: "I don't know. I mean, I am focused on the team being effective in the way that we want to play. And I know that if we manage that effectively that we can - that the football can be dynamic and that the dynamisms can be then attractive and it can score goals. And if we can score goals, then everyone has fun. And in the meantime, we have to still be stable and I think that's one good thing is we have been stable if I know you can't just go let's take out the Brentford game where we made some big mistakes and we give them five goals. But if you didn't do that, we've been defensively pretty solid, and we still find ways to be dangerous.
So I think we've got to improve and both sides of the ball, in all phases of the game and and if we do that, then the attractiveness comes with I think the aggression, the intensity, and the ability to score goals."
Is important to players and your experience that they play in football or stuff that's easy on the eye for fans?
JM: "I find that players enjoy when they have a plan and that the plan can be effective to help them be successful on the pitch. as individuals and as a group. And so you can go through a lot of different styles and football and talking about what that means and what that is. It's one of the nice things about our sport is I think you really do get you can have a lot of different tactical strategies that form into different kinds of styles of play. But again, I think that the players when they know what their roles are and they can find success together there there's enjoyment in that.
I just want to touch on Robin Koch obviously play great the other day but he didn't get in the Germany squad, just wondering what you think he can do and his own motivation?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, I haven't spoken to Hansi [Flick] about it because I just wanted to respect his decision and you know, he's got also an incredible squad to get ready for the World Cup and a big chance to I think make a push to win the trophy. The only thing I can say is that we're really happy with Robin. I think everything from his work ethic to his fitness right now to his mentality. He's grown as a leader. I think he's playing the best football in his career. And I think there's more to come. So yeah, I think he's doing great.
And Rasmus as well. Obviously, he's been up and down a little bit this season, but you know, played it played well the other day. You've seen his confidence grow now?
JM: "Yeah, I think so. Rasmus when he's been on the pitch, We've defended really well. And so I'm, you know, continuing to push him to adapt and grow and be confident to be aggressive and do the things that I know he can do well, and, you know, I've had different discussions with him about this.
"You know, you came here to be challenged. And that's exactly what this league does to you, especially if you're a fullback, you play against the best players of the opponent almost every week. So, but yeah, I'm really happy with him. He fits in the group perfectly, you know, he's likeable. He's a hard worker, so he's gonna get better and better I'm sure."
Being back on the touchline this weekend - in terms of that confrontation that there is the a technical area, is that something that you would look at, of yourself at all? You seem like you're damned if you do damned if you don't show enough passion? That's one thing but then is there a line as well?
JM: "I've been on the touchline for a lot of games. I haven't been thrown out that many times, but I've been given a red card a couple of times. But in general, it's interesting because there were things that I think were an advantage from being up in the press box. I was right by Adam. They were kind enough to have me up there. And there's clarity that comes with seeing the game from that tactical perspective. But I think there's a big part of the reason to be on the touchline is to be there with your team and you know, you adapt your eyes as a manager as a coach to what the game looks like at that level as well. But it's still always easier to see it when you're up higher. But yeah, I'll be I'll be glad to be back down there again. My plan is not to pick the right cards."
Is the bottom line that as a coach you're not there to be friends with everybody in that area of the pitch?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, listen, I love this business. I respect this league. I respect, I'm humbled by the league. And I want to do everything I can to help our team be the best that they can be. That's my total focus. And so, you know, I know that I think it's important in that sense to make sure that I'm available for them. And I'm next to them and with them. I'm, I'm there, you know, so the energy. I tried to calculate how to use my energy but, but I am a passionate guy and I'm not afraid to show that."
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