Jesse Marsch believes that the Leeds United fans had a 'chip on their shoulder' when he was first appointed as the club's new manager last month. The 48-year-old was appointed as Marcelo Bielsa's successor just a day after the latter was sacked from his post at the Whites.
The decision came as a shock to many Leeds supporters given what Bielsa achieved at Elland Road, guiding the Whites back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. He also helped them to a ninth-place finish last season, having accumulated their highest top-flight points total since 2002.
However, Leeds have underperformed this season and had lost five successive matches before the board decided to mutually part ways with Bielsa following a 4-0 thumping by Tottenham Hotspur. Marsch was the man the Whites lined up as his replacement and it is safe to say he has done a decent job during his time in West Yorkshire.
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After losing their first two matches against Leicester City and Aston Villa, the Whites have bounced back by beating both Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers courtesy of two last-minute winners to take them seven points clear of the relegation zone. And Marsch has opened up about his relationship with the fans.
Marsch told SiriusXM: "The people here at Leeds are fantastic. They are humble, hardworking, friendly and kind. They have a chip on their shoulder, they do. It is the same as me, I have a chip on my shoulder too.
"I like it more when people are talking for me, rather than against me. But it is alright for me, between me, the club, the people and the fans, I have felt from the beginning that there is an energy and symmetry with us all.
"Let's see where we can go. It's just the start, we have a lot of work to do. The last part is that the club are committed to me, this isn't just a four-month gig.
"This is a three-and-a-half year gig and this is the reason why I came, because they believe in me so much and I believe in them. So, there's a lot to this, but for me, it is just about trying my best every day."
