Leeds United host reigning Premier League champions and current league leaders Manchester City on Saturday afternoon in a mammoth clash. 11 points from five unbeaten games and back-to-back clean sheets should give Jesse Marsch confidence, although Pep Guardiola’s City are a different beast entirely.
Marsch admitted that welcoming City to Elland Road is far from easy, adding that his side will have to be ‘annoying, pesky, dangerous as well’ if they are to take anything from the game. But he also believes a combination of their attitude and the Elland Road crowd can make it tough.
The American coach was quizzed on three key personnel decisions in the lead up to Saturday, with Mateusz Klich and Dan James struggling to make an impact during Monday's 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, while Junior Firpo’s return to fitness could put an end to the square-peg-in-round-hole Stuart Dallas decision.
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Here are three key selection points for Marsch ahead of Saturday’s visit of Manchester City.
Koch or Klich to partner Phillips
Polish midfielder Klich was hooked at half-time on Monday, with the Whites absent in midfield and losing possession all too often. Sky’s cameras caught him and Marsch in a heated discussion on the sideline shortly before the break.
Koch came on with the intention to sure up the middle of the pitch, and while the German international made some important tackles, the lack of 360-degree awareness in midfield caused him to lose the ball in dangerous areas. Marsch admitted as much in Thursday’s press conference, highlighting each midfielders differing qualities.
"I really like Klichy and think he's a really good player. I love his personality and he's been a big part in the successes that we've had together so far, so we're going to need him for sure.
“Him and Robin provide different things when they play in that role. Obviously Mateusz is a more attacking player and Robin is a more defensive player but I think there's different needs for different situations.”
James or Gelhardt to lead the line
Dan James has started every game since Marsch’s arrival, his energy causing problems for defenders, but his panicked finishing and poor link up play have been problematic for a side in need of goals - the Welshman hasn’t scored in 11 games for the Whites.
Gelhardt, meanwhile, can and has scored vital goals. The 19-year-old hustles and bustles like a bull in a china shop, with the killer instinct to match when it counts. But his introduction on Monday - for James - seemed just to heap the pressure on Leeds instead of relieving it.
Asked about the need for a more natural centre-forward, Marsch acknowledged that James is out of position but backed his pressing ability.
“I've spoken to Dan multiple times and it's not his desired position or his best position, but even if I look at the game we were dangerous in the first 60 minutes but we controlled Palace a bit more. A lot of the time it's because of Dan's ability against the ball and pressing the ball in situations and making it difficult on the opponent.
"Being a threat in behind meant we can control what they're doing in moments better. When we took Dan out, the game got pushed towards our defensive end and we had to hang on for the last stages of the match.
"I'm still working out how we use Dan in wide positions more. Yeah, do we put Joffy, Rodrigo or Sam Greenwood up there more? Just every day in training trying to evaluate where we're at and think about tactically what we need to fight best for points."
Firpo or Dallas at left-back
Another player who has featured in every game under Marsch is Dallas, and after Firpo’s injury during the American's second game in charge against Aston Villa, he has been reliable as ever at left-back. But the square-pegs-in-round-holes experiment isn’t working anywhere else on the pitch and the Leeds manager could be tempted to actually play a left-back at left-back.
Firpo was fit enough for the bench on Monday and has been training all week, but he has struggled for consistency all season and has shown moments of real worry. The former Barcelona man can offer a threat going forward, and would provide width to a narrow attack, but the ever-reliable Dallas would provide a more stable base defensively.
“The best thing that [Firpo] can provide is ease with the ball from the left-back position, which can help us have some more solutions and try and control the game a little bit more.” Marsch said on Thursday.
“Whether this is the match to see if he's fully ready, we'll just have to evaluate that over the next couple of days but he's looked good in training and I've told him to be ready because we'll need him for sure.
"For me Stuart has been fantastic. His mentality, work-rate, ability to understand what the game requires at such a high level and I know that left-back is not his preferred position or his best position. The goal is to get Junior closer and closer to being ready to help us and then find other ways to use Stuart."
