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Paul Merson makes big claim over impact Jesse Marsch sacking will have on Leeds United’s double header with Manchester United

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Image for Paul Merson makes big claim over impact Jesse Marsch sacking will have on Leeds United’s double header with Manchester United

Leeds United have written off their back to back meetings with Manchester United this week by sacking Jesse Marsch.

That’s according to Paul Merson, who says he is stunned by the club’s decision to part company with the American.

Leeds called time on Jesse Marsch’s career at the club on Monday, when they confirmed the sacking of the head coach, in the wake of a seven game winless run in the Premier League.

That has left Leeds 17th in the Premier League table, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

The Whites are next in action tonight when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, with the reverse fixture at Elland Road to come just days later, on Sunday afternoon.

Under 21s coach Michael Skubala is set to oversee the trip to Old Trafford this evening, though Adam Pope has suggested that Marsch’s permanent replacement could be announced before Sunday’s game.

But despite that, it seems Merson cannot understand the reasoning behind Leeds’ decision to get rid of Marsch, when they did.

Giving his reaction to that decision to Sky Sports, the former Arsenal and England man said: “I can’t believe what’s happened at Leeds. I cannot believe what they’ve done.

“They’ve got back to back matches coming up against Manchester United in the space of four days and they’ve sacked the manager.

“Let’s be honest, this team is bang unlucky. This is Leeds’ biggest game of the season but it feels like the club have written it off.

“But we know anything can happen in football.”

This feels like something of a strange take from Merson on this decision.

Leeds’ go into these games against Erik Ten Hag’s side in dismal form in the league under Marsch, while Erik Ten Hag’s side have been flying recently.

As a result, it is not as though keeping Marsch, would have made Leeds bankers to win this game, considering how they struggled to break through in attack under him.

With that in mind, these matches do feel like free hits for Leeds, meaning it almost makes sense to make this change now, giving them time to get someone in, before the fixtures against those around them that ought to really prove decisive in the relegation battle.

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UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.