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Matty Hewitt

Every word from Jesse Marsch's pre-Fulham press conference - injuries, regrouping, tension, fans

How do you regroup the team over the next few days ahead of Fulham?

Jesse Marsch: "Yeah this is brutal task to try to do a press conference for the next match right now. We have to first see physically where guys are at and make sure we have a team on the pitch that's ready to play at the highest level. We've got to evaluate tactically exactly what we want out of the game and then we've got to put a group onto the pitch that's going to invest everything they can to get a really important result for us."

You said this is the first time in your career that you've had a run like this, do you have to have a look at what you're doing and look to change it because of the unique position for yourself?

JM: "Yeah, that's what the job has been everyday. I think the work has been good from every perspective, from my staff, from our physical team - we don't have a lot of injuries, we have a lot of guys that are ready to go. Again, I don't think individual performances were terrible I think we just need to collectively find a way to manage moments and in both boxes, take care of what we need to take care of. Yeah of course, from a football perspective, from a leadership perspective, I'm trying to analyse everything without over analysing. That's the key. You get stuck in a circle if you start trying to think about every little detail. The vibe and the mood has been good but now we've got to find a way to dig deep and do what we can for Sunday."

Read more: Leeds United winners and losers as pressure builds on Jesse Marsch after Leicester City defeat

Did you think it was fair for fans to sing those chants and how much can it impact the players as well?

JM: "Yeah, I think it does impact the players. If it's fair or not it doesn't really matter. They can express their opinion however they want. They only one I heard was for Marcelo Bielsa and I'm okay with that. I'm okay with the fact that Marcelo is a club legend. I would hope that they see we've done a lot of work and that we've worked really hard as a club, as a group, as a team to save our season last year and we're going to do the same again, we're going to do whatever we can to find a way to be successful."

What are you expecting from Fulham?

JM: "They're a good footballing team they spread the field really well. They're a good passing team. Mitrovic is a very dangerous player - one of the most clever players in the league and we'll have to manage him in the right way. I think they've had a good campaign and a really good start to the season so it won't be easy."

You said you turn your attention to Sunday straight down the tunnel. What was your feeling towards you players was it one of anger?

JM: "No, no. It's about shaping them to be ready for it. To understand that we have to stop the bleeding and of course what can I say to them after that? Everyone was crushed. I have to find a way to keep them strong and keep them believing in what we're doing."

Toughest moment for you in football?

JM: "Yeah, pretty tough, but I knew coming to Leeds United was going to be difficult. I knew that building it up to be a team in the Prem that was going to be successful, was never going to be easy but we're going to stay steadfastly committed to the team, to each other, to the process and we're going to find solutions."

Will Pascal Struijk be available?

JM: "Yeah, I'm hopeful. Lets see, I'm hopeful."

We know Elland Road will be behind you and the team on Sunday. How important will the first goal be?

JM: "Massive. I think a good start, a confident start, a goal in general. We need goals and the lead would be massively important for us. Listen, we love Elland Road, I love Elland Road, I love our fans. We need them right now and we need to be unified. They helped us last year in tough moments and we need them now."

How are you going to alleviate tension for players on Sunday?

JM: "Again, I think we need to use the pressure in a way to motivate us, motivate our energies to be clear. The clarity of what exactly the game will need, will be the most important thing. I know they'll be ready to run and fight and do whatever it takes. They have that and just make sure they do it in a way that helps us win the match."

How difficult is it to prepare for three games in a week?

JM: "That part is okay. We do a good job as staff and I was at clubs that were in the Champions League playing three matches in a week all the time. In that part we'll be ready. We already have a good idea for what that game is going to look like."

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