Alan Shearer and Jermain Defoe were both full of praise for Jesse Marsch's Leeds United plan after a comprehensive win over Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea. Speaking on Match of The Day 2, the former England internationals discussed how the Whites' boss had stepped out from Marcelo Bielsa's shadow at Elland Road, with a performance that encapsulated exactly how his sides want to play.
The win over the Blues ends a 20-year hoodoo against the London side and keeps Leeds' unbeaten start to the season going. The Whites have picked up seven points from their opening three Premier League fixtures.
It's been an impressive start for Marsch's side as they look to avoid last season's survival on the final day. Both Shearer and Defoe were left thoroughly impressed by Leeds and Jack Harrison in particular.
READ MORE: Leeds United supporters hail Chelsea win as best since Premier League return
Full Match of The Day 2 transcript:
Alan Shearer: "It was an incredible game. Other than the first few minutes of the game where Raheem Sterling missed a big opportunity for Chelsea, Leeds battered Chelsea.
"They went after them, they didn't give them a moments peace. Their energy, their application, the way the manager had them playing in terms of pressing. It wasn't just about the pressing, when they got the ball they played some fantastic football as well.
"This is what they did. They just didn't allow Chelsea to settle and play any of their game because of this [high press] it wasn't just one person doing it, it was the whole team.
"When they lost the ball, then when they won it back they had three of them to go and play and cause Chelsea problems as they did. He gets a warning here the goalkeeper because that's exactly what Leeds were going to do - they're going to close him down, every player, no time at all for Chelsea to play to get into any sort of rhythm.
"We've had the warning which Mendy didn't take any notice of whatsoever. He tries to be clever - too clever - and he gets done with an absolute howler.
"But, Aaronson led from the front in terms of his ability and energy - threes and fours [pressing]. Even when they were 3-0 up their attitude never changed Leeds. Once they got the third one they wanted to go and get a fourth one and then force other errors into the game.
"This is with two or three minutes to go [two Leeds players dive into tackles] I'm on about the commitment they're showing and they responded to the crowd because that was electric at Elland Road today.
"That's Thiago Silva there [in a heap on the floor], no respect, they got in there for the tackle and the manager was driving them forward. They did that and it was an unbelievable performance and thoroughly deserved."
Mark Chapman: "As Alan said, it wasn't just the running, it was the football that they played as well. You could have probably picked any of their players that encapsulated this, but it was Harrison that got player of the match and he was at the forefront of everything they did."
Jermain Defoe: "He was fantastic today, you talk about energy levels and application, when you do get the ball back can you show quality? Can you play? He was so direct, really sharp and gets a cross in. In the final third, end product, that's what you want from your players.
"He gets the ball again here, doesn't go back, right I'm going to go forward. He comes inside and keeps the ball, lays it off and wants it again. He gets it, great feet but maybe should have played to feet here and is unlucky.
"He continued that all afternoon and you talk about quality from set pieces, it's a fantastic cross in the box and top finish. This one, he puts the corner in and some players may switch off and try and get in the box but he senses danger and realises if he switches off there, on a turnover it could become two on one.
"He gets back into a defensive position, delays the play and he waits and ends up getting a block here. Fantastic, it's brilliant, the side of the game that people don't talk about.
"At the end of the game his energy levels, a little bit of trickery here, falls over and he still has it. It sums up his afternoon. Everything he did came off an he just kept going.
"What happens is when you put in those performances, you get rewarded. He gets into the box, the danger zone, it falls to him and it's a tap in. That's what happens for all the hard work and effort you put in."
AS: "I think it was known for their running stats under Bielsa, but I felt it was more measured today, there was a trigger. When and how to go and if they're going to continue that they'll be a tough team to beat."
MC: "Does that feel like, I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, that performance and that game, the result, draws a line under the Bielsa era? I know Jesse Marsch has been there a while but how emphatic they were, it's now his team.
AS: "He wanted to stamp his authority, there were more pressing things to be had last season in terms of staying in the Premier League, now he's able to put his stamp on it. Without a doubt, that was his team, that was what he wants them to do.
JD: "They've always been a fit team and they're going to work hard, which you have to in this division, but what they've got now is an understanding of when to press. Not just going and individually pressing, waiting for triggers and pressing their shape, when the distances aren't too big and everyone is together.
"You see today in terms of output and recovery runs, getting close to each other, they made it really uncomfortable for this Chelsea team."
MC: "The other thing, it's a midfield that's moved on. There's no Kalvin Phillips who's moved on. So many times last season we talked about Patrick Bamford and when he wasn't there, but you can see from the stats we showed earlier with Rodrigo and Jack Harrison - the goals they're scoring without him at the moment - that's another sign, seven goals in three games, that they've developed a little bit."
JD: "Of course, that happens with players. I suppose when players get injured it's an opportunity for players to come in and get those sort of numbers. We talked about Rodrigo and Jack Harrison and what they've done so far, to start the season like this, two top players and you just hop they continue like this."
AS: "The atmosphere inside that stadium today was electric and you could tell the players responded to that. He's helped them create that in the things he wants his players to do. The fans are responding to that."
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