Concerns about Leeds United’s trajectory under Marcelo Bielsa were bubbling away by the time Patrick Bamford nicked a last-gasp equaliser against Brentford in the 15th Premier League game of last season. Standards had been set very high by the first campaign back in the top flight, a return of 16 points from an available 45 had set some alarm bells ringing.
Two wins from the next 13 matches would confirm what many had feared was happening in 21/22. Bielsa was sacked before the end of that 13-game streak and Jesse Marsch had been drafted in to find the points which, ultimately, kept Leeds in the division.
Wednesday’s loss to Manchester City made it 15 points from 15 games this season and put Marsch one point behind Bielsa’s 2021 returns. To many, that is a statistic which suggests there has been little progress or evolution under the American as another campaign threatens to keep the Whites locked in a relegation battle.
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The current head coach was asked about signs of evolution this week. After the City loss, in the pre-match press conference for tomorrow’s Newcastle United trip, Marsch would make his case for the development he has seen under his stewardship.
“The behaviours of the players and the development of the players [has developed],” he said. “There's a lot of guys I've developed a lot since I've been here.
“Robin Koch, right now, is playing the best football of his career. Pascal [Struijk] is, Tyler Adams is, Marc Roca is, Rodri[go] is, Sam Greenwood is, Cree Summerville is.
“The guys that have really been a big part of how we've continued to evolve are really showing they're in really good phases of their career. We're going to continue to make them better.”
The form table would give Leeds little chance of taking anything from Saturday’s trip to St James’ Park, but clashes with West Ham United (16th), Aston Villa (12th), Nottingham Forest (19th) and Everton (17th) all follow in the next seven weeks. There is far more pressure in those clashes for Marsch to prove the development in results.
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