Leeds United fans may well be torn on the potential future of gaffer Jesse Marsch as the 2022/23 Premier League campaign has turned into a very difficult one for the United States born coach.
With the club sitting in 16th place in the English top flight table with only nine points from our opening ten games, the defeat on Thursday evening to Brendan Rodgers’ even more struggling Leicester City side did prove two things, some fans at Elland Road have now unequivocally turned on the 48-year-old American and also that based on the chanting, there remains an awful lot of love for former gaffer Marcelo Bielsa but even Lottoland sportsbook could have told you that.
With our King Power Stadium hosts easily establishing a two goal advantage by the half time break, the side were booed off as we switched ends and things only got worse for Marsch as his decision to replace Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra with Joe Geldhardt with 15 minutes remaining on the clock saw additional cries and jeers of ‘what is going on’.
For those not in attendance, it will not surprise them to know things got even worse when the full time whistle was blown and with so many questions now being asked about his own future amongst the fanbase, he knew he had to come out fighting in his post game interviews and he did just that, apologising for the performance, but avidly insisting that Andrea Radrizzani and the other members of the clubs’ board remain fully committed and behind him.
Quoted by the BBC as the loyal travelling fans began making their long journey’s back home, Marsch explained one flash point where many thought he was simply ignoring them as he made his way down the tunnel after the game had ended.
“I want to say sorry to them. It was nothing against the fans. In that moment I am disappointed and trying to figure out what I am going to say to the team. My focus is on stopping the bleeding.”
Having survived last season by the proverbial skin of our teeth, everyone was looking for better this year and we saw new faces arrive but we seem unable to dig ourselves out of the malaise we are now in, having notched up only two wins and three draws so far.
With Fulham up next, on a high themselves after a heavy three nil victory over Aston Villa on Thursday night that saw former England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard get his marching orders, the temperature will only get worse if we do not pick up a positive result and put in a good performance.
However, the gaffer still felt it was way too early to be talking about being involved in another relegation battle this season.
“I know I am supported by the club, we are totally unified. No-one is happy about this defeat. I am as angry as I have ever been. One of the things I saw before I came was the way the board supported Marcelo [Bielsa] all the way for many years. I have felt that same support from everyone.”
Adding.
“When a team goes through a bad spell the manager is the first one to be questioned about whether he is doing the right things. But we are together. We had to fight our way out of it last year and we have to stay focused.”
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