Former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges believes Jesse Marsch can defy the critics over him being American in a similar way to Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.
Celtic were heavily criticised over the appointment of Postecoglou last summer – who, arriving from Australia, was viewed as coming from a country where the standard of football is often disrespected.
Postecoglou, though, has done an excellent job at Celtic Park as he has his side sat top of the Scottish Premiership – ahead of a Rangers side who finished 25 points clear of them last season.
Leeds boss Marsch became just the third ever American manager in Premier League history following his appointment last week – and was met with the typical, yet tiresome ‘Ted Lasso’ comparisons.
While Marsch was defeated in his first game in charge of the Whites, Leeds were unlucky to be beaten by a Leicester City side they were better than for much of proceedings.
Speaking on the Gegenpod, Bridges believes that English football fans take an ‘arrogant and egotistical view’ when it comes to Americans in the Premier League and is hopeful he can prove them wrong.
He said: “Of course, but it’s an arrogant and egotistical view. I’ve got agree with you - to think just because we created the game, we invented the game means we know everything about the game is not the way.
“So, the Ted Lasso documentary, I don’t think that helped any of the American coaches and there’s also a programme in England called Soccer AM that used to a skit about an American called Bob Bradley which was just a total wind up, so that doesn’t help.
“I think you’ve got to look at Ange Postecoglou and I still tell the story about Sunderland, I wanted Ange to get the job before Chris Coleman did. I was speaking to Martin Bain about him, I said he’ll change the culture of your club, he’s a serial winner. His comments were: ‘I’ve never heard of this guy’. He’s won things - the Asian Cup. That just shows you the bubble that they’re living in without looking at the bigger picture.
“I’m delighted that Ange has gone and broken the trend. He’s gone to Celtic, a massive club - the media gave him c*** from day one and Ange handled it like you wouldn’t believe. He swatted flies left, right and centre and said I’ll do the talking on the field. He’s done that.
“Jesse Marsch again, a lot of stuff came from Leeds fans. He’s won things, I like his personality and I like what he’s said. If you look at the football they played in their first game - defensively much more organised. So, it is an arrogant and egotistical way that the English look at these guys but again I don’t think documentaries have helped.”
