In March of last year, when Jesse Marsch stepped into the manager’s office at Elland Road, two Norwegians were first in line to congratulate him.
Marsch has been tight with Erling Haaland and his father, the former Leeds player Alf-Inge since he coached Haaland at RB Salzburg, but the American is not particularly looking forward to their latest reunion on Wednesday.
When Haaland junior and his Manchester City teammates arrive in West Yorkshire for Leeds’s first home encounter in 53 days, his team’s sometimes-vulnerable defense will have to maintain full concentration.
“As soon as the schedule was released last summer, Erling emailed me and said he was most enthusiastic for this game,” adds Marsch. “I authorized him to sustain a minor hamstring injury!
“My time with Erling in Austria was remarkable. We had a wonderful friendship, and when I was offered the job, he and his father were enthusiastic and supportive. Erling was born in Leeds, and his father has a historical connection to the city. Due to this, Erling has a soft spot for this club, but I fear that it will inspire him even more against us.
Even with his extensive insider knowledge, Marsch acknowledges that there are no simple answers to the question of how to control a striker who has not stopped scoring since joining City from Borussia Dortmund. However, he has become accustomed to answering these concerns.
“It will come down to luck at times,” he concedes. “Erling’s instincts are extremely singular. His containment requires a deep understanding of where he prefers to be.”
Haaland appeared eager 2018 to return to his homeland. Before a potential transfer, the then-Molde striker was invited to Leeds and toured the club’s facilities. Yet, in a classic “sliding doors” scenario, the possibility of one of Norway’s most renowned exports playing for Marsch’s predecessor, Marcelo Bielsa, was snatched away when directors argued over the £4 million asking price and Salzburg stepped in.
As he attempts to alleviate his team’s persistent relegation concerns, Marsch could use a center forward even half as effective. The 49-year-old is well aware that some Leeds supporters wanted him removed before the domestic pause caused by the World Cup, but Haaland junior is effusive in his admiration for a former colleague he regards as “a wonderful manager” and “an amazing guy.”
When Haaland and Marsch worked together at Salzburg in 2019, Haaland’s only visible weakness was his heading, but Marsch is credited with plugging that critical hole in an otherwise formidable arsenal by sharpening the forward’s aerial abilities.
At Leeds, a significant off-field space became available over the holidays. Marsch is presiding over a changing of the guard at a club where the minority shareholders 49ers Enterprises – an investment firm related to the San Francisco 49ers – are poised to exercise an option to buy out Andrea Radrizzani, the current chairman and main stakeholder.
This could depend on whether or not the team maintains its Premier League status. If a draw against City would be cause for celebration – and especially on a night when Tyler Adams, Leeds’ influential United States central midfielder, is suspended and the similarly impressive goalkeeper Illan Meslier faces a late fitness test to determine the extent of his recovery from a debilitating bout of glandular fever – the manager will not be given the benefit of the doubt indefinitely.
With a challenging trip to Newcastle on New Year’s Eve and West Ham’s return to West Yorkshire on the following Wednesday, Marsch may soon be under heavy scrutiny once again.
Much may depend on the continuous development of his intriguing young forwards Wilfried Gnonto and Cryscio Summerville, as well as the outcome of Patrick Bamford’s long-running quest to regain the fitness and form necessary to reverse his team’s fortunes.
Given that the director of football, Victor Orta, is seldom enthused about January spending and that impending takeover typically impedes investment, Marsch is unlikely to have much transfer market flexibility in January. Any available monies will be utilized to acquire a new left-back and, if possible, a central striker.
The manager has been experimenting with 4-3-3 formations in practice, maybe to conceal the team’s weaknesses. “I believe 4-3-3 provides us a bit more flexibility, particularly defending the ball,” adds Marsch, a former 4-2-3-1 proponent.
“We can exert pressure in various ways that allow us to both attacks and defend ourselves. And, depending on the opponent, 4-3-3 can be easily manipulated by slight tactical nuances.
The cohesiveness of the group has always been strong, but I believe we have made improvements in recent weeks.
Leeds fans must believe he is correct.
