Just a few days ago, Leeds manager Jesse Marsch complained about how fed up he was of losing after his team had fallen into the relegation zone following four straight loses.
Even so, just hours after making that remark, he was commemorating debatably one of his career’s most renowned victories as Leeds won a dramatic 2-1 triumph at Anfield to progress out of the bottom three.
“This was essential to eliminate the bleeding,” Marsch later explained. “The guys are upbeat, and music is playing in the locker room. This must be used.
“Last week, against Fulham, we were much more intent on losing than winning, and I believe the best part was seeing a real tenacity at 1-1 in this game.
“Goalkeeper Illan Meslier had to make some big catches, but the mindset to stay in the game and see whether we could get 3 points was rather strong.”
Marsch was well supported in the summer to put together a side that could push on after steering Leeds to Premier League preservation on the final day of last season.
They began the season well, with two victories in their first 3 matches, including one with a victory over Chelsea, but the drop in form since then has been concerning.
The latest series of defeats put pressure on Marsch, but to be fair, Leeds haven’t always gotten the results their showings deserved.
They were 2nd in expected goals when away from home and the first in tackles well before trip to Anfield, and it all came together on Saturday night as they took their chances while rarely allowing a Liverpool player in control of the ball time on the ball.
“I’m just happy for our team,” said Marsch. “I have faith in them.” That is something I have repeatedly told them. I challenged them to improve, to remain strong and united, which they have done.
“A true leader focuses on his or her people, and this was a critical time for our people.”
“We faced one of the top teams in the world.” It’s a big deal to come away with 3 points.
Whereas external pressure was mounting, Marsch insists he never lost faith in his players.
Leeds have already had key player injuries to cope with, forcing the American coach to place his confidence in youthful players this season.
The players who have come in, however, have reimbursed their manager’s faith in spades, including match-winner Crysencio Summerville.
Marsch added, “We have an extremely great young core.” “There is a really strong 18-21 group, particularly in attacking positions.
“Our group has excellent balance. We shouldn’t have found ourselves in this predicament. We’ve been playing well, but not scoring.
“This is probably the best gift I can get from anything,” Summerville added, whose goal came the day prior to his 21st birthday. “Words can’t describe how i feel right now.”
“We must have faith that anything can happen in any game. I’m pleased because this is an early birthday present.”
Leeds must now make sure that this is not a one-off, but that will be simpler said than done with 3-placed Tottenham as well as Premier League leaders Manchester City as their subsequent two opponents.
They will most likely confront those games in the same manner as they did this one, however what, if something, had changed in the lead-up to this match?
“I’m not superstitious in the least, but I happened to change it all this week and cannot remember what ended up working for next week!” Marsch continued.
If the Leeds manager can pinpoint precisely what he did differently to help engineer this victory over Liverpool, then it will not be long before they are looking up to the top of their table as opposed to the bottom.
