Jesse Marsch press conference highlights: Leeds United boss issues team news
and live on Freeview channel 276
Leeds kick off their 2022/23 Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend and will hope to get underway in a more positive fashion than last year.
United were beaten 5-1 by arch-rivals Manchester United this time last season before going six matches without victory to begin 2021/22.
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Hide AdThis year, the fixture list has been somewhat kinder to Leeds, offering up fixtures against a Raul Jimenez-less Wolves and Southampton in the first two gameweeks of the season, before matches against Chelsea, Brighton and Everton before the first month is out.
Marsch’s side sustained injuries to Archie Gray, Luis Sinisterra and Adam Forshaw during the club’s pre-season tour of Australia but none were deemed serious and each could play a part in this season’s opening contest if passed fit.
On the list of Marsch’s absentees, four first-team players will sit out the Wolves opener: Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo remain sidelined through injury, while Dan James serves the final game of a three-match suspension.
Keep up to date with all Marsch has to say in this afternoon’s live press conference blog.
Jesse Marsch press conference highlights: Leeds United boss issues team news
Eyes peeled for the transcript
That’s all from Jesse Marsch, a full transcript will follow later this afternoon.
Marsch on emotions towards Kalvin
When I knew I wanted to be a coach, I thought I would be about tactics and competitiveness. I care for people, for me this is a people business. In a stressful time, we invested everything we had, along with that comes a real affection and for the situation and a fondness that we did it together. We achieved our goal and everybody sacrificed everything we had. When I see the mural of Kalvin it’s hard not seeing him here everyday. Now I just have to do it a little bit more from afar and see him in an ugly colour of blue.
Marsch on striker competition
They will dictate that more than anything, if Patrick is fit then Patrick will play a lot of minutes but I also have to be cautious that he hasn’t played a lot in the past 10 months, and be conscious not to kill him early on. Joffy the more he pushes himself and takes advantage of the situation he’s going to gain more minutes. That’s where you talk about healthy competition and guys pushing each other and I think we have that in our squad now.
Marsch on Aaronson
Brenden’s work ethic is some of the best I’ve ever known. The league demands the best from people and it’ll demand the best from Brenden. Coming from wide situations and moving into the middle it suits him a little more physical. He’s intelligent enough to play across our front four, he’s clever in tight spaces and good around the goal.
Marsch on Phillips exit
I’ve still had contact with Kalvin. Last week I drove through the city and I saw the mural of Kalvin and it got me a little emotional. Not having him in our kit is not so easy to accept. Moving forward it wasn’t going to be replacing Kalvin with one or two players but continuing the process of how we want to play. A lot of the players we have here have adapted more and more. Tyler Adams and Marc Roca who they are, fits really well for where we’re at right now. Adam Forshaw has adapted too. You could include Darko and Archie who could see playing time in that position too.
Marsch on coaches
Rene [Maric] and I share a lot of education and foundation of what we want as a playing model. Frankie Schiemer has been in this week too.
Marsch on strikers
We have Joffy to support him, I think they can play together. Rodrigo can support him too.
Marsch on Bamford
It’s been a huge week for him, he looks great, he looks fit, he looks sharp. The good thing as well is now having Patrick closer to 100%, we’ve been able to work tactically through what we want him to look like. I believe there’s a lot of room for improvement and that’s our goal to help him. He looks great, he’s psychologically incredibly excited and I know we have a great player on our hands. Is he at 100%, probably not but he’s close.
Marsch on Wolves
They’ve changed a little bit to four in the back, they’ve played Podence in the striker position with Jimenez being out. I think their manager is very intelligent and they have an incredible player pool, really intelligent. They fit together, defend really well and then they can still unbalance you with the way they move the ball. I think we can get an edge of set-pieces, a big challenge one we’re excited for.
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