Soccer

‘There will be people who hate me’: Marsch shrugs off Leeds doubters

US coach making his mark after replacing hugely popular Marcelo Bielsa in February

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch celebrates with Tyler Adams after the Premier League victory over Chelsea at Elland Road. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch celebrates with Tyler Adams after the Premier League victory over Chelsea at Elland Road. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Mon Aug 22 2022 - 20:33

The Leeds coach, Jesse Marsch, hopes he can win over the doubters after Sunday’s scintillating Premier League win against Chelsea.

The American accepts he is still unpopular among some of Leeds’s diehard Marcelo Bielsa supporters after replacing the Argentinian in February.

But the manner of Leeds’s 3-0 win at Elland Road can only help appease the sceptics. Marsch, whose side sit third in the early-season table, said: “There is probably still a lot of doubt in me. It’s okay. It’s normal. There are going to be people that like me and people that hate me. I just want the team to play with love, passion and belief.”

Bielsa’s legacy at Elland Road can never be diminished after he guided the club back to the top flight, but Marsch’s blueprint was clearly in evidence as goals from Brenden Aaronson, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison left Chelsea floundering.

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The former New York Red Bulls, Salzburg and Leipzig head coach said: “I know the fans are so intelligent. I hope to see a little bit more of what the tactics are and what we are trying to accomplish.

“They learned in the past with the way Marcelo liked to play, now they are starting to gather more information what [my] tactics look like. It is an intelligent crowd and passionate. Winning always helps, but in some ways performances are more important.”

Marsch’s summer signings Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Marc Roca were among the standout performers in a rampant team display that left Chelsea clearly second best.

“We had to build match plans that included exactly what it means to play here,” Marsch said. “We did that with the players we have added and now it is coming together in a lot of different ways.

“This league keeps you honest every week, so you can’t feel too good about yourselves. We should feel positive and believe, but we have to keep pushing and being hungry.”