Do your talking on the pitch, Mr Marsch, says John Giles.
Jesse Marsch has been in charge of Leeds for just six games since taking over from Marcelo Bielsa in February, but the American has already started to aim digs at his predecessor.
Normally, the complaint from a new manager is that the players aren't fit enough and more work is needed in training. Quite the opposite in this case, with Marsch complaining that the players were overworked by Bielsea.
Speaking on Talksport, the American coach said that the former manager's training methods are to blame for the long injury list at the club this season.
2J3FY2C File photo dated 18-03-2022 of Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch who has admitted his competitive nature can make it difficult for him to befriend rival managers. Issue date: Friday April 8, 2022.“The injury issue, for me, had a lot to do with the training methodology.
“These players were over-trained and it led to them being physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically in a difficult place to recover from week to week, game to game.
“I have a very specific methodology with the way I work and I’ve had a reputation for high running data, but also being having a healthy, fit, strong players – who can meet the standards of the game we want.
“You could see it in their faces. You could see in the 15th minute that some of them were already at the max – and that shouldn’t be the case.
“I know there were a lot of games and guys had to play over and over again because of injuries. I find that in this sport, you have to have a fit team, but the more your best players are healthy and able to perform at a high level, that’s how you create success."
The Elland Road side have lost 1,284 match days to injuries so far this season, according to Premier Injuries. Everton are next highest with 1,255 match days lost, while Crystal Palace have the lowest total, with only 401.
Leeds legend John Giles wasn't impressed with these comments and said that the methods Bielsa used were successful in previous years with the club.
"I think they're outrageous and unfair.", Giles told Off The Ball.
"He [Bielsa] has been doing, for the last three or four years, what he did this season. During those three or four years, he took Leeds from nowhere, got promotion from the Championship and then finished well in his first year in the Premier League; doing what he did."
"That's what got him to that position. Marsch is saying that the injuries are because of what he was doing, what about the previous two years?"
"I think it's unfair and wrong."
Considering the esteem to which the Argentine is held at the club, Marsch's comments risk the wrath of some Leeds fans who feel Bielsa was hard done by when the club sacked him. Giles feels that it's needless, and perhaps a little early in his reign to judge others.
"He's showing off. What he's saying is that Bielsa was all wrong in what he did, but I've seen the players and I'm putting it right. Good luck to him."
"You can't run Bielsa down for what he's done. Any manager taking over from another, shouldn't make derogatory remarks about the other manager. If he's sacked, he's sacked."
"You get on with the job. He's being very unfair on Bielsa. He's got a long job ahead of him, there might come a day when he's sacked himself. It's very unprofessional and wrong."
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