Leeds United are coming to the end of their tour of Australia. The Whites will play their final game down under on Friday against Crystal Palace. Their first game saw them beat Brisbane Roar 2-1 while they lost their second 1-0 to Aston Villa.
And with the new Premier League campaign just weeks away, Leeds boss Jesse Marsch was in high spirits out in Australia as he answered questions from the press.
Read everything Jesse Marsch had to say in his recent press conference below...
Jesse, you did media this morning. What have you done today in the meantime?
Jesse Marsch: "Yes so it was nice to meet the Premier and a lot of the local officials this morning, everybody was very gracious and welcoming. They took us down to Cappuccino Street and actually Patrick [Bamford] and Dan [James] each ordered a cappuccino from a coffee shop down there. And then we just had a little bit of a video session late morning, and then we had lunch and then we talked about training and now we're here. So just trying to maximise every every moment we can here while we're in Australia."
Has it been a challenge maximising preparation for games while you've been doing so much travelling?
JM: "Yeah, it's not been perfect in terms of the training camp but at the same time, I think our mentality to work and to improve and the camaraderie of the group is so strong and we don't have in our team complainers or negative thinkers. We have a bunch of guys who are positive, excited for the matches. So that part, it makes it a lot of fun to be the manager for this group."
Jesse, are you getting what you need out of this trip, given the Premier League season is so close?
JM: "Yeah, I think the first two matches were good for us, a good test. We've worked on our fitness. We want to maximise the last three days while we're here. So before we head back guys are healthy and fit. I think we're moving in the right direction. So yeah, so far, so good."
What have you made of Crystal Palace? It looks like a good matchup on Friday night.
JM: "Yeah, obviously, they've been a little bit stressed with some of the COVID issues that they've had to deal with inside their club. They didn't bring everyone but they still have a strong team and I saw that a lot of their guys started against Manchester United and Melbourne and played a lot of minutes. So we'll see what the what they look like but we're hopeful to get a strong team so that it's a good test for us."
I don't know if you're aware, but it's been unusual to see blue and yellow out here...this is usually Fremantle territory, which is purple. Have you been briefed on the AFL situation here?
JM: "Yeah, I heard that the Premier was risking political suicide by wearing blue and yellow but everybody's been incredible - incredibly welcoming. The amount of scarves and and colours that we've seen already in town has been very impressive and it was the same in Brisbane and also at the Gold Coast. So many of our fans coming out showing passion for our team, talking about staying up in the middle of the night to watch us play so it's really exciting to be here and we want to deliver one more good match for them on Friday night."
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Some people have been surprised by the level of competitiveness that's been shown in these games. Are you feeling as though that there's a bit of internal fight kind of going on pushing for positions with the season so close?
JM: "Yeah, we're all obviously privileged to be in this business and the Premier League is the best in the world. But there's no love lost, right? The competitive drive, I think for everyone in this league, to be the best, to do the best at all moments is what makes the league so special. So for us, we try to make it a big part of our DNA, that anytime we step on the pitch that it's personal, and that we want to always deliver our best performance. So we have always respect for the opponents but we want to be at our best at all times."
Are your players fighting for positions on this trip?
JM: "I think it's more about establishing our way of playing, our mentality, continuing to push ourselves every day to get better and better, than it is about internal competition. Obviously, that's always the case in professional sports. Everyone has to earn their way every day. It's same for managers. But I think that there's been really good work done by everybody and excitement for the matches."
What's the general injury situation?
JM: "Archie [Gray] is going to be on the pitch today, not training with the team but doing some individual work with the hope that he can potentially be available for the match on Friday. We'll see. Cody Drameh has a little bit of a hamstring strain but nothing I don't think that is too drastic. Hopefully he will be available for tomorrow and Friday and Liam Cooper is still nursing his achilles issue which of all things he picked up training in the offseason on a treadmill. So it's been about a month now, and we haven't really been able to get him going. But we're hopeful that here in the next days, we can get more and more on the pitch."
And where are you now in your search for a striker? And did you decide that you'd look at a left-back as well?
JM: "Yeah, I'd say we're actively pursuing both positions. The striker one, I think it's been well documented that Charles De Ketelaere was a goal of ours, and it's not finished yet with him. But we've also moved on to some other targets, trying to figure out which would be the best fit, if in the end, which is what we believe he will not be available. And then left back, we have a few different candidates and we're just trying to evaluate exactly where we are with the roster and what exactly we need."
Sonny Perkins was announced as a Leeds United player yesterday. Tell us what you like about him and what he can bring.
JM: "Yeah, he's got qualities and explosive striker, I think he has flexibility in the positions he can play. He's an intelligent player, we're really excited to add him to our to our club. I think I need to get to know him more and more. He's been at Thorp Arch training with our U21s and we've had really good feedback so far. So, I'm looking forward to getting back and getting to know him more and getting to work with him more on a daily basis."
And Jamie Shackleton was another man on the move yesterday. Is a loan in the Championship what he needs at the moment?
JM: "Yeah, we had a good conversation. Jamie's been an incredible story I think for the club, because he's come through the academy. He's a Leeds boy. I think he's had some really good moments with the club. He's even when he came in for the match for when we played against Brighton in our second to last match.
"I think he performed well but everyone I think felt strongly, including Jamie and his team, that he needed to get match minutes and where he is in his career, that was really important. So I think the loan to Millwall is a good opportunity for him. I know they're excited to have him and you know, we'll keep track of him carefully and see his progress."
Jesse in terms of this season, when you came in, you were three quarters of the way through a campaign and the team been set up by Marcelo Bielsa. Do you think with the players that have left and the new players that have come in, this is more of your team now?
JM: "I don't ever really think of it as my team, I think of it as our team and that's the way we operate in the club. But I certainly know that the support that I've gotten from the board and from Victor Orta has been really strong and amazing. Obviously, some players that I've worked with before. But the scouting team, the departments and the work they do to identify the types of players that we think can fit into what our model is, and what we want our club and team to be for the future has been really good.
"We've identified key targets for lots of positions and then we've been able to go out and secure them with more work to be done obviously. But I think it's a good start for us as a team working together to continue to build the club in the model that we think will be successful for the future. So, I'm thankful to be here. I know the support for me has been really strong and I think together that we will be unrelenting to find the success that we know our fans deserve, our club deserves and our players."
Do you feel more able to deal with what the Premier League is? You didn't have an easy situation, you weren't given an easy ride by external people - mainly to to with your accent. Are you more able to deal with that now and shut out the outside?
JM: "I don't know that that'll ever go away but it's okay. I'm okay with that. I think that a big part of my job is to be able to sit here at these press conferences and still represent what we are doing in a way that can allow for us to quietly, as quiet as possible, for club like Leeds that has so much global attention is for us to work well and relatively calmly and and to improve every day. That is a big part of my philosophy.
"It's just a process of becoming a really strong team together. I'm lucky to have great men in the squad and it's leaders that we have and certainly starting with our captain Liam Cooper to all the the veteran players that we have, to then even the young players and their desire and hunger to grow and get better and improve and their beliefs that they've shown me. I think it stems from the belief that I've had in them. So we have good relationships. We have, I think, a really healthy environment that's been created and I'm very thankful to be part of it."
Jesse, obviously, there's been a lot of talk about Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips leaving, but you've done a lot of business. I know you said there's still more to go, but are you happy with the way things are shaping up?
JM: "For me, I think Marc Roca, Rasmus Christensen, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra have all fit into the team really well. Darko Gyabi is also getting more and more integrated and he's a young player. It's not always easy for 18-year-olds to step right into a team but I think everybody sees his quality and his personality. So for right now, I feel really strong that the group has come together well.
"Of course, we've lost two big players but I think we've added a lot of quality and we've added more depth to what we know we needed. So it won't make anything easier, the league is incredible. It's incredible and it's a pleasure to be a part of it, it keeps you challenged, keeps you honest, it makes sure that you never get too far ahead of yourself but we're hopeful that this this group of players can help us develop and create some good success and a strong future."
Another key player in the last few years has been Jack Harrison and there's been speculation about him. Can you enlighten us on his situation and whether you can see him being at Leeds next season?
JM: "Yeah, I mean, I think Jack unintentionally brought attention to the whole situation because for sure his intention is to be with us. Even when I mentioned we listen to lots of offers for lots of players, that's the reality of what our businesses is. There's always interest in our players because we have quality players. We're in the top league in the world.
"But we feel strongly that the guys we have within our group right now can help us be really successful and Jack is certainly one of those. I think Jack really didn't mean to bring any attention to it and I'm sure he'll have his chance to give his side of things but I know he's happy here. I know he loves playing for the club. He and I have a great relationship and he knows how important I think he is to what we're doing here in the future."
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