Jesse Marsch has cited Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, as inspiring him though managerial challenges Leeds.
The head coach has admitted he “hates” the intense stress of managing the Yorkshire giants… but would rather be in the thick of daring to dream, and suffering, than anywhere else. Marsch says he looks to Man in the Arena, written by Teddy Roosevelt for comfort, and to explain his battling predicament at Elland Road.
The coach likens striving at Leeds to one of the most famous proclamations by Roosevelt who led the US for 9 years from 1901 - about “daring greatly” and putting your reputation on the line to scale new heights. Marsch says every game feels like a final because of Leeds’ precarious position fighting relegation, and that brings stress, pain and criticism.
And he said: “You’ve read the Man in the Arena, right?” The speech reads: “...the credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
Marsch explained: “The Man in the Arena. Right where we want to be. But it is also awful! But where you want to be. What determines matches with such a fine margin of success and failure is always in this sport not so easy to process.
“It is always stressful! It’s not like I hate my job, we have to keep going. I try to enjoy the moments and be there for the team for what they need but I hate the stress. The enjoyment is the people. The relationships with players and people at the club. The pain is in… there is nothing better than standing in the box before the whistle. It is right where you want to be.”
Leeds have two wins in 13 games and face West Ham in a must win game. Marsch succeeded Marcelo Bielsa in February, winning nine of his 30 games in charge, with 14 losses. He says he’s a better manager for the experience of the last 10 months but the top flight is so intense.
“I would sit and watch teams play, Leicester, Villa, Wolves … every match I watched was: That ARE good, how are we going to manage this match and get ourselves to be the team we want to be.
“2022 has been a big challenge for me but one I have really enjoyed. I am really thankful to be at this club. Inside the club and inside the team we are unified and committed to doing this together. You talk about the stress, for a manager it can be lonely but when you have people around you who support you and believe in the same things and give everything to the project then you have solace in the fact that you will get better and find a way to grow.
“ Liverpool and Newcastle play a version of intense football and so do we. We interpret it in different ways. Our motivation and clarity is making sure every moment, every guy, is totally committed to it, no matter whether it is Man City or Cardiff. That is the only way to be successful.”
Marsch says he will remain an open book emotionally, and warned no one to think that is a weakness. He added: “Sometimes people think because I am open they can use that against me. That my openness means weakness. I have to be clear that when we are not meeting the standards of doing things I want I have to come down hard in those moments.
"My children have learned that about me as a father too. I want to enjoy my family and this job, but it all comes down to we have to hold ourselves to the highest standards to enjoy the best moments together.”
On tackling David Moyes’ West Ham, he added: “You look at the table and obviously West Ham are a competitor for where we are. We are playing at home and need to find a way to get a result. But I feel like this every week. Man City you play some opponents that are giants.
"But every game for where we are as a team and a club feels like a final. I think West Ham were hard done by against Brentford. We watched it. They defend well, they counter well. That will be a challenge for us. We will come up with a play and go after the match.”
