Jesse Marsch is attempting the paradox of bringing both change and continuity to Leeds.
Marsch freely admits Leeds chose him to replace Marcelo Bielsa because they are similar in style and they want him to build on the Argentine's foundations.
They want him to continue playing intense, pressing football, which has been the cornerstone of Leeds’ success over the last three-and-a-half years.
But Leeds also want Marsch to implement change and it became obvious this season that Bielsa’s rigid philosophy no longer worked.
Opponents had sussed out his intense, man-for-man press all over the park, and turned Leeds’ greatest strength into their greatest weakness to exploit their vulnerable defence.
Bielsa’s insistence on defenders following their marker all over the pitch, even if this meant dragging them far upfield, left huge holes at the back for opponents to exploit.
Marsch also believes in playing with energy and pressing to turnover possession in dangerous areas.
But he will tell Leeds to hunt in packs and to press the ball, rather than the opposing team.
It is a subtle difference, but one which will help Leeds retain their shape, which they lost too often under Bielsa.
They will zonal mark rather than go man for man, especially at set-pieces - and Marsch has spent much of his first week in charge working on Leeds defending corners, throw-ins and free-kicks.
Marsch explained his thinking at his unveiling on Thursday: “A lot of teams had developed match plans against the way the team had played here that were starting to become very successful and easier and easier to implement.
“I’m not just saying we need to defend better, that’s clear. I’m saying what are the tactics to manage it more effectively, including set-pieces?
“It’s about getting away from the man-marking, trying to create tactics that don’t expose us in transition moments as much.”
Bielsa was obsessed with wingers, which left him blind to the team’s deficiencies up front and in the centre of midfield, and Marsch will want Leeds to be more compact and solid.
His favoured formation at Red Bull Salzburg (where he won the Austrian league and cup double in successive seasons) and RB Leipzig (where he lasted just four months) was the 4-2-2-2 of one of his mentors, Ralf Rangnick.
Bielsa preferred 4-1-4-1, so expect Leeds to be narrower under Marsch and play with two up top.
Training will also be different and it was no coincidence that Leeds have suffered so many soft-tissue injuries while Bielsa has religiously adhered to his infamous 'murderball' midweek training session.
Marsch wants his players to play with energy and aggression, but has ditched 'murderball' to ease the workload on them.
“On Monday I came here and met with the medical team and they introduced a myriad of injuries,” he said.
“There has been a cycle when guys have been playing with injuries and picked up more injuries. I need to help guys recover as quickly as possible and not endanger them and overload them.”
Crucially Marsch will be given time to remould Leeds in his image and he will not be sacked if Leeds are relegated.
Leeds handed him a contact until June 2025 because they believe he can turn them into European contenders.
That is a long way off at this moment and for now, Leeds will happily take survival.
