Phil Hay has told his Athletic podcast that Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch launched a football from the halfway mark to the touchline near the West Stand at Elland Road on Sunday after full-time – following the 3-2 loss to Fulham.
Leeds fans watched on and endured another loss. A sixth defeat in eight Premier League match, and a fourth loss in a row. The pressure is growing rapidly on the manager, with Leeds slipping into the Premier League relegation zone.
Rodrigo scored his fifth league goal of the season to give Leeds the lead. But Fulham replied with goals from Willian, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Bobby Decordova-Reid. Crysencio Summerville got a second or Leeds in injury time.
Marsch apologised to fans after failing to applaud the travelling support following the 2-0 loss to Leicester. At Elland Road on Sunday evening, he walked round the pitch to applaud fans – receiving both praise, and dissent from fans.
But Hay also shares what Marsch did at full-time, during his lap of the pitch. The Athletic reporter says Marsch kicked a ball near the halfway line towards the touchline on the West Stand, seemingly taking his “anger” and “frustration” out.
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“At full-time, looking down at him on the pitch, he looked shell-shocked. He looked beaten. He had been criticised at Leicester for not going to the away end. On Sunday, he did go around the pitch, a mixture of applause and dissent.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but he kicked the ball from the centre of the pitch to the West Stand touchline – which seemed to me like the frustration of a head coach, taking his anger out. It is hard not to feel sympathy for Marsch.”
Hay: Marsch launched football after Leeds loss to Fulham
Marsch is a man under pressure. Plenty of fans and pundits are of the opinion that the ex-Leipzig manager is nearing the sack. However, the Leeds board continue to back Marsch and even footage of Angus Kinnear has emerged online.
The Leeds CEO states that Leeds are backing Marsch and he is working incredibly hard to turn a corner. But Leeds have three Premier League games ahead of the World Cup – two are against Liverpool and Tottenham away from home.
He looks to be a man under pressure, and bereft of ideas when it comes to turning the tide. But that is something he has got to do ahead of the World Cup break, with matches coming against two of the Premier League’s best sides.
