Michael Skubala heads a Leeds United caretaker team overseeing the first team game against Manchester United in the Premier League tonight.
Leeds moved to sack Jesse Marsch on Monday afternoon following a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, the club’s 10th in the Premier League this season.
At the time of writing, Leeds haven’t made an appointment, leaving Skubala with the task of preparing for tonight’s trip to Manchester.
Who should replace Marsch long-term?
Arne Slot
Andoni Iraola
Marcelo Gallardo
Other?
In his press conference yesterday there was a confident aura about the caretaker head coach, who was insistent that “throwing the baby out of the bath water” wasn’t an option this week given the short turnaround.
That suggests, then, that we will see a lot of the principles Marsch leaned on, despite the obvious club ambition to evolve longer-term.
As our graphic below underlines, it’s hard to imagine too much will change in terms of personnel tonight either.
Infact it’s just the two changes in personnel, as Robin Koch returns after suspension, forcing a reshuffle ahead of Illan Meslier in goal: Max Wober replaces Pascal Struijk at left-back, with Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling making up a back-four, which we expect to be retained given Skubala’s belief the defensive side of the game hasn’t been too bad.
The other change is in midfield, where Weston McKennie is handed a first start since signing on loan from Juventus. The USMNT ace a more natural fit in a 4-3-3 alongside Tyler Adams and Marc Roca.
Looking at the attack, it’s Luis Sinisterra that drops out, with Jack Harrison moving onto the right-wing. Willy Gnonto flanks Patrick Bamford from the left.