Robin Koch shares big difference Marsch has made to Leeds defence

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Robin Koch has told BBC Radio Leeds that Leeds United feeling like they now defend as a team is the biggest difference between the styles of Jesse Marsch and Marcelo Bielsa.

One of the biggest criticisms levelled at Bielsa during the final stages of his tenure was his lack of willingness to deviate from the man-marking system. There were plenty of occasions where Leeds paid the price for the structure falling apart. And it did appear that teams had worked out how they could get at the Whites.

Marsch appears to have come in with a more pragmatic philosophy. Leeds have still conceded five in his first three games in charge. But there have been more promising signs against both Leicester and Norwich.

Leeds look a lot less vulnerable defensively. And Koch suggested that they are more unified in how they work to keep the opposition at bay.

“I think the biggest difference is that we’re not man-marking anymore,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “In the past, we did a lot of running. And in man vs man, we’re reacting all the time to the opponent.

“Now, we’re more like a team and go for the ball. Sometimes, we go with three men, aggressive to the ball. And I think this is the biggest difference.”

Man-marking system seemed to hurt Bielsa’s Leeds more than anything as Koch opens up on big difference under Marsch

It has to be noted that Bielsa’s ideas ended Leeds’ wait for a Premier League return. And it took them to ninth in their first year back at English football’s top table.

But ultimately, not adapting the man-marking system was causing real issues. It had not been working for some time. And it was clear that it was getting to some fans when seeing that one Leeds player getting beaten had such dire consequences.

Obviously, there were other problems. They had lost the ability to outscore teams. And there is nothing to say that Bielsa would not have turned the fortunes around.

But the new approach was surely needed. Leeds look a lot better defensively. Even against Aston Villa, the first goal involved a decisive deflection, and the third was an outrageous moment of quality from Calum Chambers.

Leeds have plenty to work on over the coming months. But shipping fewer goals will certainly go a long way to boosting their hopes of staying up.