Jesse Marsch has given an update on his Leeds United future and reiterated he has the full support of the club's hierarchy heading into the game with Liverpool this weekend. The Whites head to Anfield looking to end their eight game winless run, but a number of players are doubts for the fixture.
The Leeds boss has discussed all that and more in his press conference earlier today.
Full transcript of Jesse Marsch's Leeds United press conference ahead of trip to Anfield
Jesse Marsch: "I'll just start with the injuries. Stuart [Dallas] and Adam [Forshaw] are still out in addition, questionable are Leo Hjelde with his appendectomy? And then Joffy, Rodri, Luis, Liam and Tyler are all a little bit in question. We'll see how the next 48 hours goes for all of those players. Yeah, yeah, that's it."
Jesse you're on a difficult run at the moment, after the game you talked about how you and the board are unified can you just give us an insight into the conversations that have taken place over the last week or so? And how confident are you that you'll get the time that you need to turn the season around?
JM: "They've been very supportive. I've spoken with Angus, Victor and Andrea multiple times. You know, we've done a few things, we're modifying our World Cup schedule, to think about how we can maximise exactly what we need in the moment. Everything from matches to where we're thinking about travelling to training. You know, we've talked about adding staff and we're looking carefully at things like psychologists and adding to the complexity of what we do as a staff. You know, transfers, obviously, you know, and they've been very supportive. But, of course, I'm not dumb. I understand exactly, that if we don't win games, I put them in a very difficult situation to continue to support me. So my focus is entirely on what what is necessary for the next three games and you can include the Wolves match in the Carabao Cup in that as well."
READ MORE: Jesse Marsch delivers major Leeds United injury update as five key players doubtful for Liverpool
Liverpool then next up, a tough challenge, but did Nottingham Forest maybe show the blueprint last week on how to beat them, or does that result make it even more difficult for your side?
JM: "Well, listen, I know Liverpool, I've gotten to know Jurgen Klopp a little bit over the years. He's relentless in his commitment to make his team better and his belief of the way he does things, Liverpool for me has been one of the best teams in the world over the last four or five years. Yeah, I think no matter what, that is a group of professional players that understand what the demands are. They have a lot of niggling injuries right now. Their backs have been against the wall already a little bit in this year, in different ways than where we're at, but we know the quality they have we know at home they're incredibly good. The way they responded in the game against Ajax shows everything and we're expecting them at their absolute best."
When you first took over, on your very first day you talked about coming in and taking away the stress. Is that something you'' have to do now because clearly the players are under a lot of pressure to get results?
JM: "It's a little different. I'm a little angry right now. I'm tired of playing matches where we're in the match and in many cases we're better than the opponent and walking away with nothing. I'm tired of not capitalising on moments when we're the better team and I'm tired of giving away goals too cheaply, tired of not getting results we should be getting. I've never lost, 14 years a player, 13 years a coach and I've never lost this much in my career. I'm sick of it and so I'm trying to figure out which guys can be counted on at the highest level right now. What kind of decisions need to be made in terms of match plans and I need to help find the group confidence and find the guys who are ready to fight for everything right now in these next matches to do everything e=we can to get the points we need."
Are you thinking of changing the way you're playing or are you going to stick to a plan?
JM: "It's not about changing the style of play it's about modifying certain tactics for what the opponents are and where we are in the situation. This week I've mixed things up because I can see the attention span for things when the stress levels are high haven't been as good. I've tried to find the right mix of training ideas along with tactical ideas and preparation in every way, so that the concentration is at the highest level so that when we step on the pitch we play with more confidence, discipline and concentration. It's a little bit of all three of those things right now. We're urgent, trying to stay positive, we're injecting belief but we're also trying to find exactly - again the moment is now."
How do you keep your positivity up because that radiates to the players?
JM: "I'm always a pretty positive guy but like I said I'm kind of angry too. I'm sick of losing so at some point it's going to be we did in and do whatever it takes. We believe in our group and believe in our team. You can go by expected goals and all the metrics and see we should be in mid-table and all this but the only metric that matters now is points. We need to put points in the table so that we make everything about what we're doing now more stable."
It sounds like your hand may be forced with injuries but are you more hopeful than that list suggests?
JM: "We'' see how it pans out but I thinks its a balance. All along it's about trying to maintain our physical output and maintain we're one of the most intensive teams in Europe and in this league, but also make sure we're not picking up injuries and trying to get that balance right. We've probably had fewer muscle injuries than any team in the league and still been able to maintain an intensive way of playing but we think we can do more in terms of intensity and we have to try to do that without risking missing players. I think the few players that we missed against Fulham was important. Not having Tyler [Adams] on the pitch., I thought hurt us on that day."
Liverpool aren't having the season they want in the league but they are unbeaten at home and still in the Champions League, where do you see a weakness in them?
JM: "The weaknesses in Liverpool...[Laughs]. It's not that we see a weakness in them, it's can we challenge them in the intensity in which we play and with the ball can we limit them as much as possible, can we limit them on set-plays where they've been incredibly effective and can we not let them get out on the counter and can we find more situations where we can get out on the counter. Both teams like to play on the counter and they're one of the most lethal in the world at that. I wouldn't describe Liverpool as having weakness, I'd try to say we will have a game plan and we will try to stick to it and we will try to execute it to the best of our ability to give ourselves the best chance in the match."
Just you said you you're sick of losing you're tired of losing and you've never lost this much as a player or manager. How tough is this position you find yourself in compared to what's gone before?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, it's about identifying for me what exactly is necessary for us to change our fortunes in some ways, a lot of people in football in sport, they say yeah, you need a couple breaks. We have to make our breaks. You know, when we if we make the penalty against Arsenal, that's a break and if we capitalise on it, then then we're in a different place. But we're not prepared to seize moments like that for whatever reason right now and I have to try to encourage the group, maintain the belief and then find the right combination of energy tactics, training, everything to get that right so that the next time we're in a moment like that we can capitalise."
Is that the next step then from what you're watching, on statements about looking for players to stand up and be counted those that can seize the critical moment?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, it's not - at least I don't want to put the responsibility on the on the players that, we're all responsible. Certainly we have to challenge everyone to stand tall in this moment and to know that we're close but it's not been good enough. I mean, that's, that's the reality we live in. So we have to push the we have to find a way to push a little bit harder, to think a little bit quicker to think a little bit more carefully but absolutely make sure that the mentality to fight for everything come matchday is is paramount and to do whatever it takes. That includes not being so naïve in certain moments. Not giving things away so easily and then yeah being ruthless and finding ways to capitalise."
How do you approach this game?
JM: "We have to be disciplined and compact. We don't want to open the game up where they can be outrunning the entire match and using their talent and qualities in open space, but we have to still find ways to command the game in what we do with the ball and in possession and then. I has to be our best game, our best counter-pressing game, it has to be our most disciplined game it has to be our most intensive game. Like in those standards we have to know make sure that we're at our highest level."
Emotions can run high after a game like like Sunday's have your chance to process and reflect on Elland Road's reaction and what would you say to those who maybe don't share the same level of belief as yourself?
JM: "I think Elland Road was not overly negative. I actually thought the way that they treated the team and the situation that we're in, given the negativity that they could be feeling, I felt still like it's a fanbase that loves the team and loves the club so much and they all recognise that we're not in the situation we want to be in. Of course, some people want me out. Some people want to see us just find a way to turn the corner because they can see that the performances are not bad. So in the end, it's normal, like I said, whether it's with the board, whether it's the team, whether it's the fans, we have to start to find a way to get results or the questions start to come in this direction. It's normal."
Is there an element of frustration because you can only do so much as a manager?
JM: "Yeah of course there's frustration and disappointment that we don't capitalise on some of our performances but in no way do I want to put the blame on anyone else. It's my job to find a way to get the players in their best form, to get them as clear as possible, to make them confident, to help them go after games. That's the job of a manager so I'm trying to do that. I'm trying to find the right mix of guys who at the highest level is ready for this moment and try and put a plan together that will give them the best chance to succeed."
You and Victor have grown close and you've said he's the reason you're here. What heart to hearts have you had this week?
JM: "He's been amazing as always. Supportive, behind me, he believes in the football, believes in the leadership and believes in me. He's encouraged me to stay strong to tell me that he's with me 100% and this is us working together. He's done everything a Sporting Director could do for a manager, really. I couldn't ask for any more and it pains me that we all have to go through this. It's my job to get us out of it so we can enjoy our relationships and our work together. We're going to find a way to do that."
Is the implication that some players haven't been giving you that fight?
JM: "Well it's just that now the demands are high in terms of confidence, belief, quality, commitment, execution. All of it. Obviously certain personalities are up for it and can handle it, other personalities waiver in times like this. It's normal. I said last year it was a psychological project, I almost feel like we're back into that phase right now where I have to psychologically analyse exactly where each individual is at and where we are as a group. And then I have to try to bolster that and encourage it and then give it the chance to succeed. We did that well, obviously last year in many ways, and now we have to find a way to do it again."
Just to go back to expected goals and metrics do you think then, that the league is an unfair reflection of how the season has gone in terms of performance?
JM: "I think that if we go game to game that and you look at the fact that we haven't won in eight games based on how we've performed over the eight games, it's almost impossible to believe that two points is all that we've earned. But, that's our reality right, in those eight games and their phases and all those games. What if Luis scores in Brighton on the two inch line and it doesn't go wide? What if we score the penalty at Arsenal? What if - you can go through what ifs, but it doesn't matter, right? You could still look at the metrics and you could look at different things. And you could say, we're actually doing okay, but - which I believe - but in the end again, right now, if we continue losing matches, then everything at the entire project is in jeopardy. So we got to figure out a way to stop that."
Who can you look to for advice?
JM: "I mean, I have people close to me, you know, I have family, I have friends, you know, but my staff is a big source also. Yeah. But the biggest thing are my experiences. Right, when I have been through hard times, when I've had successes, when I found ways when it's been difficult to turn it. It's been about work and it's been about the concentration of the gravity and clarity of what the work is. And so, that's I think the most important thing for a manager, obviously in there is the ability to challenge the players to invest in the players continually. And in the end, it's the players who are going to help get us out of this, their clarity and their psychology is the most important thing."
You mentioned the support you've received. There's been a lot of Premier League clubs that haven't been as supportive of their managers and have been a lot quicker to get rid of and it says a lot about the club and your relationship with the hierarchy.
JM: "Yeah, I mean, you know, we know Leeds United is a big club. I've learned that first hand. I knew that before I came, but I've learned so much more since living here and being part of this. It means that the intensity of the focus from the outside gets magnified. But it means that internally we have to be even stronger. Right it's not a club that's for people that can't handle this business at its highest. And so, I think, that we know that internally and that whether that's again the players, the staff or the the board, we've stayed true to the plan that we've had and to the belief that we have had and we need it right now. We need it."
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