Leeds United press conference: Every word Michael Skubala said on Jesse Marsch, Man Utd and injuries
and live on Freeview channel 276
Leeds United’s first press conference since the sacking of Jesse Marsch takes place today, and you can follow it live right here.
The Whites decided to move on from Marsch after 11 months on Monday, less than 24 hours after a potentially costly defeat to Nottingham Forest. The search for a new manager has now begun, but in the meantime, under-21s boss Michael Skubala will take charge as with back-to-back games against Manchester United this week, the first of which takes place on Wednesday night.
Skubala will face the media this afternoon as he dives in at the deep end, and you can follow live updates of the press conference below.
Leeds United pre-Man Utd press conference
Key Events
- Was Marsch sacking fair?
- Injury update
- How Jesse said goodbye
- Game plan for Old Trafford
- What has happened since Marsch was sacked?
Have you spoke to Jessse?
MS: “I spoke to Jesse before he left. He spoke to all the staff before he left. It was good, and managers go through these situations.”
Game plan for Old Trafford
MS: “There’s no point throwing the baby out of the bath water. There will be a couple of tweaks, which you might see, but we have to make sure the players are ready to play Manchester United. We can’t be passive, but we also need to be pragmatic in that we are playing an in-form team at Old Trafford.
“We will set up a team that is competitive without the ball. We will be competitive without the ball, and we will set up a team that will test them, and they will do the same.
“We have been really good without the ball. We have been on the front foot and aggressive. That’s a positive thing that we can’t change at the moment.”
Injury update
MS: “The usual longer-term injuries, I think you know about. That hasn’t changed. We have some bumps and bruises, but I don’t want to give anything away before we do training.”
Could you end up staying on?
MS: “This is a temporary situation. I’m happy to support the club while they find a coach, and I will go back to my role once this is done.
“They are working really hard behind the scenes to find a solution. I’m busy preparing the team.”
Old Trafford opportunity
MS: “It’s every coach’s dream to lead a team at Old Trafford. I’m lucky enough to be trusted by the board, and it’ very exciting.”
Was Marsch sacking fair?
MS: “The situation is very hard for the club and Jesse. Jesse tried to build a team and a way of playing. Ultimately, the board decided he wasn’t getting enough points, and it’s a points-based industry.”
You know Gareth Southgate, right?
MS: “I worked for Gareth Southgate, yeah. I’ve had loads of good messages from lots of friends who have offered advice. Along my journeys across the last 25 years of coaching, I have built up lots of relationships. Gareth is busy enough.”
Bamford comments after Forest
MS: “I think Pat was just being open, and he spoke about how he felt he was playing the game, how he felt isolated in that sense. I think it came from the heart.”
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.