Congenial was almost a dirty word for Jesse Marsch as he described manager relations in the Premier League last month. Leeds United’s head coach wants some needle on the touchline, he wants to wield the dark arts and he wants to influence referees.
It was only in the recent build-up to the Crystal Palace trip the old battles Marsch had with Patrick Vieira in the US were recirculated. Vieira, then the New York City FC boss, had accused his counterpart of influencing the man in the middle with his pre-match moaning about decisions in favour of star players.
On Saturday, Marsch was booked by Paul Tierney, though it looked to initially Cameron Toshack who was beckoned forward for a warning from the referee. Marsch was enthusiastically clapping as Tierney approached the technical area, though it’s unclear if that was for his players or the official.
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While Leeds are scrapping for their lives in the lower reaches of the table, Marsch wants to do everything within his power to swing momentum in their favour, especially when it’s a juggernaut like Manchester City. He said: “I call this human behaviour 101.
“So, I don't know if you guys have those kinds of courses in England, but we have those in the US. If the referee isn't behaving in a way I think is appropriate, and I'm asking things to change and they don't change, then I have no other recourse other than to adjust my behaviour to try to force the referee to change his.
“Is that a good strategy or not? I'll say this: after I get the yellow, I don't think it's a coincidence they pick up a yellow in the next play.
“So it's about, at times, without being disrespectful because I have respect for referees and I know it's a very difficult job, but when you play the biggest clubs and teams in the world, this is normal.
“I've seen it in the Champions League. I've seen it in many different phases, the big club gets the calls and so you have to fight.”
