---
title: "Leeds: Laura Woods makes Jesse Marsch claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-laura-woods-makes-jesse-marsch-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-03-03T07:15:57Z"
modified: "2022-03-03T07:15:57Z"
---

# Leeds: Laura Woods makes Jesse Marsch claim

**[TalkSPORT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caLoinOPeB4) presenter Laura Woods has claimed that new Leeds boss Jesse Marsch will likely be more defensive than Marcelo Bielsa.**

### The Lowdown: All change

The Whites decided to [part ways](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/29560/club-statement-marcelo-bielsa) with Bielsa on Sunday following three-and-a-half years in charge after the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham at Elland Road.

\[freshpress-poll id=”389254″\]

That defeat capped off a horrid month for Leeds, who became the first Premier League side to concede [20](https://twitter.com/LUFCDATA/status/1497578160547848203) goals in a month and have now let in [60](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) for the season.

Marsch was swiftly appointed as the Argentine’s successor, penning a deal to [2025](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/29569/jesse-marsch-appointed-leeds-united-head-coach), with his first game in charge at Leicester City on Saturday lunchtime.

### The Latest: Woods’ comments

[TalkSPORT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caLoinOPeB4) presenter Woods said this on-air regarding Marsch ahead of the trip to the King Power Stadium, claiming she’s heard the American might be more ‘defensive’ compared to Bielsa.

> “I’ve also heard that \[Marsch\] might be a little more defensive. They do need to do something obviously to stop shipping those goals.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

### The Verdict: Needed

Phil Hay shared a story on [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3156339/2022/03/01/what-a-jesse-marsch-team-looks-like-possession-with-purpose-post-match-recovery-and-pressing-intensity/) on Wednesday, looking at what a typical Marsch team looks like. He identified similarities to Bielsa’s Leeds in regards to intensity and ‘passes per defensive action’, but it is expected that Marsch will deviate away from the man-marking system fans have become accustomed to at Elland Road.

Doing that may well help the column which reads goals conceded between now and the end of the season, which could play a big part in Leeds avoiding relegation.

While it may dull the typical excitement of this Leeds squad, Woods’ claim about Marsch being more defensive appears to be needed, especially as the Whites have conceded at least three times in each of the last [five](https://twitter.com/LUFCDATA/status/1497590010958262280) games.

***In other news: [Leeds coach now set to stay at Thorp Arch alongside Marsch after Bielsa sacking.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-marcos-abad-set-to-remain-as-goalkeeping-coach/)***