Leeds United were beaten at Elland Road for the fourth consecutive game as the Whites surrendered to Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa.
Jesse Marsch has only been in charge for two matches, but his side have failed to find the net in four consecutive Premier League games - which is a particular concern considering Leeds have not kept a clean sheet in 15 outings.
This is compounded by the fact Leeds are winless in eight successive games, leaving them dangerously close to the Premier League's relegation zone.
Boos reverberated around Elland Road at full-time as Marsch's side ended the match with ten men. Junior Firpo was stretchered off late on following a collision with Emiliano Buendia.
Marsch addressed the performance, chants for former manager Marcelo Bielsa and the injury to Firpo among other topics during his post-match press conference last night.
Here is every word the American had to say.
Jesse, it was meant to be a night to remember for you tonight. It was pretty horrific. How did it go so badly wrong?
I underestimated the stress of the moment. From the players' perspective, we've had a very good week, good 10 days together. I've tried to create clarity for the group as to how we want to play and the behaviours that we want and the tactics to create clarity with that but it was clear from the beginning that we lacked confidence and aggression in the match. I've heard a lot about the Elland Road crowd tonight and I thought it was fantastic from the beginning, really. But I also could see that the players they want to do well so badly for each other and for the club and for the fans that it brings almost more pressure and stress onto their shoulders. So, from the beginning I said we have to stay calm, and we have to be clear, and I can see right now that that's a message that we have to stay strong with. And that you know when we step on the field that we need to know that the fear will ensure failure, right? It won't protect us from failure. We have to be fearless. We have to attack matches and we have to go after opponents. That is the biggest lesson for me from what happened tonight.
And in terms of the display, there was a lot of room for Matty Cash in particular not only for his goal, but for the first goal as well. How disappointing was it for you to see that sort of space afforded to the opposition?
Yeah, I mean, the goal they scored we talked specifically about the fact that they love that, they like to do cut back crosses and we didn't adjust to it at all was a little unlucky to deflect off of Pascal. There were a lot of elements in the match that we had spoken, how we wanted to handle our set-pieces, our movements and ideas with the ball and our movements and ideas with and against the ball, we didn't execute and we didn't follow the plan often. So at half-time, I addressed this I addressed the confidence, I addressed making sure that we were more fearless in our approach. I addressed the tactical [elements]. I reinforced the tactical messages that we had before the game, and then we had a good phase. We had a good phase at the beginning of the second half where we played the way we wanted to play and we brought the crowd into the match which is always the goal and then we weren't sharp enough or good enough to find the equaliser - and then we know that moment we invited a few too many counters and then give up the second goal. And then after the second goal, for me, we became a bunch of individuals and tried too many individual moments and not enough team coordinated ideas of how to get ourselves back in the match.
And you put that down to nerves then, Jesse?
Well it's being clearer with the tactical responsibilities and roles on the pitch and then executing them in a confident way that can lead us to be strong and better and clearer. So stress is a factor in that because it clouds judgement and clouds ability to go on the pitch and be clear with the discipline and ideas of what we're trying to create. So in some ways you have to accept that it's normal, but in other ways. We have to really take away the lesson again is that fear is going to block us from achieving our goals, that is number one. Second is discipline to do exactly what we say and understand how it fits with each other, [that] is what's going to create more confidence and help us get into matches more. So we have to do that in three days. You could argue 'Wow, this is a very difficult task to put together'. But in the moment, you could also argue that this is exactly what we need is a big match on Sunday and regroup and now make sure that when we go into Sunday's match that we're ready to fight and do whatever it takes to get to get the win.
For Junior Firpo, what's the situation?
I hate speculating on injuries, but I would guess that this one's gonna keep him out a while. So we'll see, it looks like something on the inside of the knee like an MCL strain. So hopefully it's not too bad.
Jesse, does the return of Patrick Bamford give you optimism?
Yeah. And I thought Patrick brought energy into the match, you know, so yeah, a couple dangerous moments. I think his personality is important because he's a confident guy. Right? He doesn't suffer from fear and we're going to need that and we're gonna need him and we're gonna need his quality and we're gonna need his personality within the team. So yeah, that gives me a lot of optimism.
Jesse, how can you change a mentality of fear or stress in three days?
Yeah, the one thing that I can promise you is that I'm not afraid of the of the moment and the situation. In some ways, I like having my back against the wall. Right? Because I think that this business is not about how good you are when it's good. It's about how good you are when it's when it's really tough. And clearly, we have a situation that is really tough. So I'm not going to sleep a lot tonight. I can promise you that. But I'm going to think carefully and I'm going to make sure that I regroup and help the team regroup in every way. So that Sunday we put together a much better performance and one that we think represents more who we are. So yeah, I mean, this is what I'm here to do is in a very difficult moment, help the club and help the players understand what we need to do to survive this situation. And actually thrive sorry, I want to thrive. I want our team and our players to thrive in this situation.
You got players to put in great balls across the area at times, but no one's there to finish. Is that where Patrick Bamford comes in?
He will definitely help in the attacking third. There's no question about that because he's clever and has quality and has has physical qualities that help us. But again, it looks for me the way I always want the team to look is that it's cohesive, it's together there's understandings of roles, and for me in a lot of the moments are in the final third look too much like individual efforts instead of coordinated movements to be dangerous. So I could you could, I would say that about the entire first half and didn't bite in the second half that we look too much like 11 individuals and it's not enough like a group that's really clear on how to fit with each other. So yeah, this the tactics are important. Clearly.
Robin Koch in defensive midfield - what does he bring for you?
I know he's more of a centre back by trade, but I think he's tactically very aware. And I think his understanding of what that role is, I thought he executed really, really well against Leicester. In general, I thought Robin could have been more aggressive in certain moments certainly try to pressure the opponent but, you know, I thought that he was actually one of the better players on the day, we'll have to evaluate exactly what we do for Sunday and see physically who's ready to recover and perform again. So yeah, that'll play a factor clearly in the line of decisions for Sunday.
You were gesticulating a lot on the touchline asking the players to provide more in close quarters. Were you happy with the pressing tonight?
No, I was not in fact that was the start of our problem is that we lacked aggression in many duels situations that we were leaving players [free]. So again, the way that I want us to press is all about the group, really attacking the ball together and attacking the opponent together. And too many times the guys who were five yards from the ball or two yards from the ball were allowing the player who was closest, to attack and they were almost watching instead of joining in and attacking together. This is a product of playing man V man against the ball for four years, right? So I'm trying to change, I have a different leadership style. I have a different tactical style, I have a different playing model and I'm trying to to get the simple things right with the group to help them be successful together, without changing everything, I'm trying to adjust their behaviours to understand how to benefit each other so it's a lot. We had a big first step against Leicester even though we didn't get the result. I think we had a big really good first step and then today was not a good step forward. Other than the first 15 minutes in the second half. So, it wasn't all perfect before, it's not all terrible now. We have a lot of work to do. We know that and staying calm and steady and focusing on the things that can make us better will be what will be paramount right now.
Just seeing the crowd like that, there has clearly been a big drain in belief and confidence?
I don't know, you know, this is my first experience with the crowd. So I'll trust you that you say that. I mean obviously there's uneasiness with the entire situation which is normal. My job is to provide confidence and provide clarity. And I understand that there that it's a big job to do. I knew that when I came here, so I'm not surprised with what the situation is. And my job is to just stay strong. Help the players believe in themselves, help the players understand what the roles are and then help them go out on the pitch and execute clearly. Which we didn't do tonight. Right? Which was obviously again part of the reason why the stress added up more and more. It works together. If they're not clear, then they're not confident. If they are clear, then they can play with confidence. So we'll keep we'll keep pushing.
The stress and the fear is only going to get worse though, isn't it the next few weeks. How do they deal with that?
Stand tall. You stand tall. Yeah. I talked about this fear this, this fear factor. And the one thing I know is that there's no lack of desire or commitment, or work ethic. But because those things are at such a high level, it almost adds to the stress and they feel the pressure more because they want it so badly. And I've said from the beginning we have to stay calm and we have to create clarity. And that is still where we are. So again, that's what I will be focusing on.
Norwich game now looking like a six-pointer - does that not just add to the pressure and stress?
I mean, I heard somebody say it's like a final and I was like no, no, I understand the vernacular of saying something like that. But every point is valuable for us. We are very aware of that, every moment on the pitch training and in matches is incredibly valuable. Every point is massive. However focusing on those things will only disrupt our ability to achieve those things. So I have to get them to focus exactly on what the roles are. What the clarity is how to handle this moment how to stay strong. That will be entirely my job. It's a psychological job with a football tactical job. And the more that I can put those two together and and help us understand how to handle this difficult moment then the more successful fund to be to pick to ask but I believe we can get there. I believe we can get there as a group.
