“I didn’t hear any of that. I was focused on the match. I thought our fans pushed us really well and helped us get the win and that’s what we need.”
Jesse Marsch wasn’t getting drawn into anything more controversial on Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure at Leeds United. The head coach has fronted up to every single question about the Argentine and perhaps made his only misstep on training with national radio.
In the 84th and 85th minutes of Sunday’s match there were chants for the Argentine and for the board to be sacked. Marsch was asked how he managed that situation as the mood began to fray inside the stadium.
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The chants were loud enough to be heard at the back of the John Charles Stand, but even if Marsch did not hear anything, as he says, he still ensured he pitched the dead bat on that question this stage of the season requires. Fresh from a point which revitalises everyone, Marsch was not about to shoot himself in the foot with discussions about Bielsa and the board.
They are topics he could have spoken about without hearing the chants themselves, but after weeks of bright and bold interviews full of the spirited messages at a challenging time, Marsch seems to be moderating his answers. The American is picking his battles and choosing when to plough into the longer, detailed answers we have benefited from since his arrival.
You will not find any journalist asking a head coach or player to say less, it’s the lifeblood of the industry, but some fans have definitely been calling for less talking and better football. This slimming down on answers was noticeable in the pre-match briefing on Friday too.
The season is coming to the boil again nicely, with attention on Thursday and then Sunday, but crucially with Leeds right in the fight and with a chance of survival. It is not uncommon for managers to sidestep difficult questions about red cards with the ‘didn’t see it’ defence, and Marsch will do well to avoid any such similar pitfalls as Leeds race for the finish line.
