By the time Leeds United kick off at Crystal Palace tomorrow evening they will have played just once in 23 days, or twice in five weeks depending on which metric you prefer. Having effectively had two breaks almost back-to-back due to the international break followed by a postponed match due to the FA Cup semi-finals, there's been a lot of work and a lot less action.
For head coach Jesse Marsch, that's good news! Having manoeuvred his side to the cusp of securing their Premier League safety, something a win at Crystal Palace tomorrow will go a long way towards, Marsch has had an opportunity to do something which so far had not been presented. Namely, work with his players.
The relentless nature of the Premier League meant preparing for games rather than instilling his ethos on the side was the main focus in those embryonic weeks of the Marsch era, but the last month has provided a welcome opportunity to stamp his authority on his side and he's hoping to see a difference in the games coming up, starting against Palace and then at home to Manchester City in a match that could have a huge say in the title race.
"I think we’ve come a long way in seven or eight weeks and now it’s about pushing them to become even more concentrated and clearer with everything that we’re doing on the pitch," explained Marsch.
"I thought the defensive performance at Watford was very good, there were things we felt we could’ve done better with the ball and build-up phases and in the last third. We’re continuing to try and push them with the intensity of winning balls, of counter pressing, of limiting the opponent in transition moments and then still trying to be creative and have poise in the last third of the pitch so that we can create more chances and more goals.
"To win 3-0 at Watford, I think, was a very important result for us and a step forward for us and we’re just trying to iron out all of the little details to get better and better ."
