Jesse Marsch: New Leeds coach ‘respectful’ of Marcelo Bielsa’s work but says ‘I am different’ | Football News

New Leeds coach Jesse Marsch says he respects what Marcelo Bielsa did for the club but believes he does not have to follow the same methods as his legendary predecessor at Elland Road.

In his first meeting with the press since he was confirmed as boss last week, the American was full of praise for the man he replaced in West Yorkshire.

But despite following a coach revered by such managerial luminaries as Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone, Marsch says he is not fazed by the challenge of keeping the club in the Premier League on his own terms.

“I’ve followed living legends everywhere I’ve been,” said Marsch, whose immediate forerunners at RB Leipzig were Ralf Rangnick and Julian Nagelsmann. “[It’s about] being secure with the fact that the predecessors did a lot of good things well.

“Marcelo changed the mentality of the club and the team. He created a winning, successful mentality here. It’s about understanding the things he did well.

“But I don’t have to be Marcelo Bielsa. It’s more important to be me and provide what this team needs to continue to grow. I’ve said I’ve followed Marcelo’s career and watched him closely and respect and learned from things that he’s done. I am different, I am my own person and I have my own ways.”

Marsch also made it clear he has the backing of sporting director Victor Orta to bring his own qualities to Leeds, who are two points above the Premier League relegation zone with 12 matches remaining.

The new Leeds boss added: “In all moments, I will always be respectful of what has happened in the last three and a half years because of the accomplishments and because of the type of coach Marcelo is. But I can say that even talking to Victor Orta, he thought I was the right type of person.”

More to follow….