Max Wober has told Austrian outlet Der Standard the main difference between Javi Gracia and Jesse Marsch is that the new Leeds United boss wants his side to play in a more pragmatic manner – branding Marsch “very emotional”.
Wober, 24, played under Marsch while at RedBull Salzburg before joining Leeds in January. He only had a handful of games under the American after forming a reunion, before Marsch was sacked after a defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Since Marsch’s sacking, Gracia has picked up seven points from a possible 12 and it is clear, that at this stage, we made the right decision to move on from the American. Marsch picked up just 18 points from 20 League games.
Of course, there was the intermittent period under Michael Skubala, too – just one point from three games. Gracia is turning the tide with his balanced approach and Leeds have climbed to 14th. Wober identified the differences.
“Different personalities, Jesse was very emotional, close to the team. Gracia is calm, matter-of-fact, has a different approach to football. Don’t always push, withdraw, defend in your own half,” Wober said. “I have to win my duels.
“Kick the strikers’ a**, make sure [the opposition don’t] get a goal. You have to be focused every second, balls fly in from 30 meters, at which you can’t afford to make any mistakes with the quality of the strikers, or it will rattle.”
Wober identifies main difference between Leeds boss Gracia and Marsch
The need was clear. Even among fans, it was without doubt that the club were far too open. In a Premier League fight against relegation, it was almost suicidal to play in such an attacking manager. The defence needed protection.
Marsch’s desire to make plan A work, much like Marcelo Bielsa, was ultimately the end of the American. Leeds gave him too much time. But Gracia has come in and got off to a near-perfect start. Hopefully, it continues until May.
