Leeds United lost out 2-1 to Aston Villa tonight and Leeds coach Jesse Marsch spoke to the media after the full-time whistle had blown at Villa Park.
Speaking to SkySports after the loss, Marsch said he felt like the performance was the best he has seen his side play and feels if they carry on the same as they did this evening, there will be more points on the board. Leeds started brightly and could have led through a Marc Roca chance that he slightly misjudged from a corner.
Unfortunately, Villa took the ball up the field and went ahead through Leon Bailey’s superb strike. The visitors dominated much of the first half and that continued after half-time. Much in the same way as the first period, Leeds pushed forward but Villa struck on the counter again. Illan Meslier saved Bailey’s fierce drive but Emi Buendia followed up the rebound with a looped header over the keeper to make it 2-0.
Leeds got back into it when Patrick Bamford, on as a substitute slotted in from close range after some good work from the Whites’ best player, Willy Gnonto.
Marsch said, “I think we displayed that we were the better team tonight, but more importantly for me, it’s the best complete performance we’ve had as a team and obviously, it’s frustrating given the fact that points are at a premium right now and you look at the table and there’s stress in that situation, but if we can play like this, then I think we have something to build on.”
“I’ve been edging and pushing the players to grasp more and more and, and to commit to the way we want to play to be brave in the ways that we want to play and I thought we did that to our best ability tonight. I think we have a really positive performance and something to build on.”
He added, “There’s so much to play, we’re not even halfway through the season. There’s no panic, it’s just really trying to kickstart the way that we want to play and if we can do that, then we have enough quality and we have enough intelligence to achieve our goals. So again, this was a big positive for me, I would take more losses and good performances because it could help them really push us forward to be the team we want to be, so again a positive, big positive.”
Leeds now face Cardiff City in the FA Cup third-round replay at Elland Road in midweek then host Brentford in the Premier League next weekend. The pressure really is on Marsch who remain winless since the start of November.
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