Jesse Marsch has dismissed speculations linking him with the Leeds United managerial position, claiming that he is enjoying his free time.
Speaking to former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, on CBS Sports (h/t GOAL), former RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch has distanced himself from rumours linking him to Leeds United.
The Whites are going through a difficult season under Marcelo Bielsa and are at the risk of getting dragged into the relegation battle following their latest defeat – a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Following that game, Leeds are 15th in the table with 23 points from 25 matches, with 18th-placed Burnley just three points shy while having two games in hand. While there is no imminent threat to Bielsa’s job, the Whites are preparing for the future, given as the eccentric tactician will be out of contract at the end of the season.
Bielsa is known to sign one-year deals and usually leaves the renewal talks for late in the summer, as was the case last year with Leeds. The seasoned manager has hinted that an exit could be on the cards if he feels he is not motivated enough, and the Whites are making preparations in case the former Athletic Bilbao boss decides to move on.
Is Jesse Marsch off to Leeds this summer? ?@Carra23 does his best to get the exclusive! ? pic.twitter.com/GCnlIFtYeR
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 22, 2022
Several names have been linked with the job, with Carlos Corberan and Ernesto Valverde being identified as potential alternatives along with Marsch. Recent reports indicated that the latter, who was relieved of his duties as the manager of RB Leipzig earlier this season, had emerged as the frontrunner to take over from Bielsa at the end of the season.
However, the American manager has rubbished those rumours, insisting that he is currently enjoying his downtime away from the game after Leipzig sacked him. “You’re reading the newspapers and Twitter too much, Jamie!” the 48-year-old said. “Listen, I’m enjoying being unemployed, let’s just say that. I’m enjoying a little bit of free time right now.”
Despite his problems at RB Leipzig earlier this season, Marsch is regarded as one of the brightest tactical minds. He did a sterling job at RB Salzburg in the past, where he delivered titles regularly while nurturing exciting young talents like Erling Haaland, Hwang Hee-chan, Karim Adeyemi and Patson Daka, among others.
While he would have been a good candidate to take over from Bielsa, for now, Marsch has distanced himself from the speculations.
