The month of October was always going to be key for Leeds United and Jesse Marsch. United made a reasonable start to the season and they left last month’s international break behind with the intention of building on that and securing some more valuable points on the board.
The Premier League grinds to a halt in just over four weeks’ time and Leeds are two games into an eight-match spell that could have big consequences on the rest of their season. Of course, given the stage of the campaign, this period is far from make or break, but the last thing Leeds want is to enter the World Cup break with the pressure of another relegation battle looming over them.
Marsch will have seven weeks to reflect on the season so far and prepare for what’s ahead while a handful of his players compete in Qatar and doing so from a position of comfort will certainly help when it comes to his clarity of thought. Relegation anxiety wouldn’t be welcomed and while Leeds cannot guarantee safety in this time, they can build enough of a cushion to put themselves at relative ease.
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The last two games have not gone to plan, with Leeds picking up a solitary point from fixtures against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. The Whites have picked up just two points from their previous 15 available and with just three points between them and the drop zone, they now find themselves approaching a hugely important week.
Leeds will play three matches in the space of eight days, starting on Sunday with the visit of Arsenal and culminating a week later as Fulham head to Elland Road, with a trip to bottom of the table Leicester City wedged in between. The visit of table toppers Arsenal will perhaps be the biggest test Leeds have seen so far this season. Mikel Arteta’s side are firing on all cylinders and having seen off Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, they’ll be flying high in confidence, even if Gabriel Jesus could be an injury doubt.
United will take confidence from the fact they demolished Chelsea on home soil earlier in the campaign, but anything they get from the visit of the Gunners will be a bonus, of that there is no doubt. The fixtures Leeds simply must take advantage of come against Leicester and Fulham and Marsch has every right to target maximum points.
Leicester have more than underwhelmed this season, picking up just four points from their opening nine games. The Foxes are certainly talented enough to pull themselves out of danger but Leeds will travel to the King Power Stadium in the hope of keeping the strugglers in their rear view mirror.
Fulham, on the other hand, started the season well but having lost their last two to Newcastle United and West Ham United, it seems as though their form has started to turn. Success in these two games could be the difference between sitting uncomfortably and not, while the world’s eye are on the Middle East.
Sunday’s loss to Palace saw Leeds and Marsch questioned for the first real time this season as the Whites let a 1-0 lead slip at Selhurst Park. Only positive results will see that small amount of pressure lifted and Marsch doesn’t lack faith in his team’s ability to prevent their poor recent form from shaping their season.
“Even after we beat Chelsea there was a lot of talk about what are the goals for the season and I was calm,” he said at Palace. “In my short time I know how good this league is and I know that every game is a fight and nothing can be taken for granted.
“It's unfortunate the way that the games have played out and that we haven't capitalised more on moments where we play well because it's not just today, I can go through several where we've actually been in control of the match for many phases and played quite well but somehow we don't walk away with the points that we feel like we deserve.
“We just have to live in the moment. We can't allow stress and fear to be built into what we're doing and we have to continue to believe. I know that we have the right kind of people in the dressing room to do that.”
Leeds’ mettle will be tested, but they if they are to avoid being sucked into the mire at the bottom they must make the most of the week or so ahead.
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