To say Jesse Marsch knows Brenden Aaronson well would be an understatement. The pair first worked together at Red Bull Salzburg, with Marsch taking him from the MLS to Europe and following Leeds United’s Premier League survival, they were reunited in West Yorkshire over the summer.
As such, the Whites head coach is far from surprised with how well the American has settled into life at Elland Road, having seen his remarkable ability to adapt and acclimatise himself to his surroundings first hand in the Austrian Bundesliga. Aaronson has been one of Leeds’ key men in the top flight this season, making a habit of producing exciting displays in the number 10 role and terrifying defenders with his tenacity and ability to work in tight spaces.
However, he hasn’t always been full of confidence in a United shirt, it seems, and Marsch has spoken about having to put his arm around him at one stage this season.
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“Luckily with Brenden I had the experience in Salzburg and the way I’ve described is, his first day of training I thought ‘this is going to take a while, he’s in over his head’ and three weeks later he was the best player in the team,” Marsch told NBC Sports. “I knew that his adaptation and his ability to grow quickly in a team environment because his intelligence and work ethic is at the highest level I’ve ever seen.
“I wouldn’t say it was exactly the same here but he did something similar. In pre-season we had matches against some Prem opponents and he was good in the match but not above average. By the time we started matches in the league, he was up to speed and performing at a high level and a very important player in our team.
“I know him well enough to know what he looks like when he’s at his best and what he looks like when he’s a little unsure of himself. We had one conversation where I said ‘you’re 21, you’re one of the most important players on your team in the Premier League, three or four years ago, if someone would have said that to you, you would told them they’re crazy, but you are, Brenden, and it’s all to do with your personality, self-belief and aggressiveness. Don’t ever doubt, don’t stop and keep going’.
“He then played in the Crystal Palace match and made a play that hit the post and almost went in, it was an incredible individual action and in that game overall he was non-stop for the entire match.”
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