Jesse Marsch has had his say on the relegation fight and admitted it is likely to go ‘down to the wire’ after Leeds were beaten 4-0 by Manchester City.
The defeat came just two hours after Burnley came from behind to beat Watford 2-1, leapfrogging the Whites into 16th place on goal difference. Both are five points ahead of Everton who have two games in hand.
Leeds travel to Arsenal next weekend before a midweek game against Chelsea at Elland Road, but the American coach has said he is ready for the intense challenge and expects the fight for survival to go down to the wire.
READ MORE: Mike Jackson on key to Burnley's revival
“Before the match, I said to them we wanted to at the end of the match look each other in the eye and say that was our best, and I think we can comfortably do that.” Marsch said of the defeat.
“We wanted to have something to take with us and continue to grow from the experience so that we can be ready for the next four massive challenges and I think we can do that. I think we can do that.
“We knew this was not going to be easy. I came from vacation and stepped into a relegation battle and I said again, that I knew that this was going to go down to the wire and I'd still believe that, and we are up for it and the confidence I have in our group and in the way they work every day and the desire they have to do whatever it takes gives me a lot of optimism and confidence and so you know, we won't be easy, but we're gonna keep pushing.”
Despite taking 11 points from a possible 15 prior to the Manchester City game - going five unbeaten and keeping consecutive clean sheets - Leeds seem as close to the bottom three as they ever have. That can partly be explained by the fact that Everton and Burnley always had games in hand.
But the Claret’s resurgence under Mike Jackson had been astounding and they have won three in a row to climb out of the bottom three. But Marsch believes the focus needs to be on his side’s performances and on his side’s results, rather than directing energy towards the results of those around.
"Yeah, it's a reality. The pressure is a reality but we have to control our reaction to the pressure and focus our energies in ways that can live in, in realities.” the American added.
“And the realities are that the more that we're able to focus on ourselves in our performances, then the more that we've been able to control results and put good performances together.
“Again for me on the table or on the score sheet, this is a loss, but in many ways, I think it's a win and it was 4-0. That's a crazy thing to say. But that's how I feel truly. That's how I feel.”
Whether it felt like a win or not, today’s result yielded zero points, and Leeds fans will be banking on a Chelsea win tomorrow to ease some of the pressure. For Marsch, focus turns to next week and to Arsenal, another side in good form who are chasing a Champions League place.
