Relegation dog-fight: Leeds Marsch banks on inspiration

 

Jesse Marsch says he will take inspiration from historical figures including Mother Teresa and John F. Kennedy as he looks to steer his struggling Leeds side to safety.

Whites winger Jack Harrison revealed his manager recited Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi in his team talk before last Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal.

And Marsch has now explained he has a book containing ‘hundreds of quotes’ which he will use to motivate his players in the relegation run-in.

‘Inspiration is a big part of this job,’ said the American ahead of Wednesday night’s visit of Chelsea.

Defeat to Arsenal, along with Everton’s win over Leicester, means Leeds are back in the relegation zone

‘I have 52 articles, excerpts from books that I sometimes give players when individually I think they need something to motivate them.

‘Then I have hundreds of quotes that I uses at different moments. I try to think how it might fit in a scenario with where we are in a season, in a moment, in a time.

‘I love quotes. I love learning from people of the past, sports figures, historical figures.

READ ALSODon’t soft pedal, Lampard warns Everton players.

‘The key is understanding exactly what messages to use at the right times so that players understand exactly how to handle moments.

‘Here we are in the stress of relegation, trying to stay strong with our belief, with our confidence, with our commitment, with our mentality.

‘Just trying to find ways to motivate, inspire our collective mentality so that we have the best chance to manage the moments that we are in.’

Asked which specific sports and historical figures he admired as leaders, Marsch said: ‘I’ve used Muhammad Ali a few times with the group.