Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
Kieran King

Leeds United news as Jesse Marsch makes bold claim over Liam Cooper's captaincy

Here are your Leeds United evening headlines on Monday, April 11.

Marsch praises Cooper

Jesse Marsch has labelled Leeds United defender Liam Cooper as the best captain he has worked with as a manager following his side's 3-0 win over Watford. The Scotland international has recently returned from a hamstring injury which had kept him out for over three months.

However, Cooper has seemingly slotted back into the side with ease and has helped the Whites to four points from a possible six after drawing against Southampton and beating the Hornets on Saturday. It has been a successful period for Marsch and he now believes Cooper is the best leader he's worked with.

He said: "He won his duels, he won his aerial duels, he was positionally in the right spot, he was aggressive against the ball, he was sharp, he didn't lose any balls. I had him speak to the team afterwards because I told them that I haven't had a better captain in the entire time I've been a coach.

READ MORE: Leeds United Premier League relegation odds after vital win and twists elsewhere

"He was great, I think he almost came to tears because he loves playing with the guys so much. I really like this group, I really like being here. It's fun working with these guys, they give everything they have, so it fits with who I am and it fits with what we're trying to establish together."

Wright praises Leeds duo

Ian Wright has revealed his 'delight' for Jesse Marsch after Leeds United's 3-0 win over Premier League strugglers Watford. The Whites kept a clean sheet for the first time in 18 games, a step in the right direction.

Marsch's side had to weather an early storm from the hosts' but finished the first-half strong with a goal from Raphinha giving Leeds the lead at the break. Second-half goals from Rodrigo and Jack Harrison ensured the Whites would take all three points from Vicarage Road.

"I'm delighted for Leeds, delighted for Jesse March," Wright told Match of The Day. "He brings a nice enthusiasm. There's someone like Rodrigo who I really like when you watch him .

"It's terrible play from the Watford defenders but he is up here and he just plays off the front men, plays off Daniel James and he is just chasing this down really. Watford are calamitous which they have been doing all season but Leeds are in and he's got three in four now."

Read more from Wright here.

Evans recalls Cellino meetings

Steve Evans has recalled the "extraordinary meetings" he had with former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino. The former Whites owner gave Evans the job as Leeds boss in 2015 on a rolling contract, but he would only last until the end of the season.

The former Whites boss has recalled how his knowledge of Leeds' youngsters, the likes of Sam Byram, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips and Lewis Cook, gave him an upper hand in talks with Cellino. The Whites would finish mid-table under Evans before the club was sold, a move that saw Evans part company at Elland Road.

"After I left [Rotherham], an even bigger opportunity came up," Evans told Coaches View. "One I just couldn’t turn down. I got a call from Massimo Cellino at Leeds.

"We had a couple of extraordinary meetings, in which we discussed how I would approach the role. I knew all about the many talented youngsters they had coming through, because I’d tried to sign a few of them on loan at Rotherham. Players like Sam Byram, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips and Lewis Cook. Really top players. I wanted to give them more of a chance.

"I also wanted to play two up front. I wanted to give Chris Wood a strike partner. I wanted to play attacking football, as I had done wherever I’d gone before. He eventually offered me the job."

Read more here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.