Jesse Marsch has urged an end to Leeds’ recent dire run in the FA Cup having been thrown out at the third round stage in each of the last five seasons… as his first taste of cup competition brings back bitter memories for at the club
- Leeds have been dumped out of the FA Cup at this stage in the last five seasons
- Jesse Marsch was encouraged to correct the club’s recent record in the competition
- Cardiff knocked high-flying Leeds out of the FA Cup 2-1 in a game marred by chaos
- The American boss said he was aware of the game ahead of this year’s trip
Jesse Marsch has experienced many highs and lows in cup competitions but Sunday will be his first taste of the FA Cup.
The American heard all the stories of Leeds’ last FA Cup meeting with Cardiff, when the Welsh side won 2-1 to spark a pitch invasion amid ugly scenes between the rivals. fans
Leeds have been dumped out at the third-round stage in each of the past five seasons and Marsch has been urged by the Elland Road board to end the shocking run.
A bad atmosphere between the two sets of supporters spoiled the third round tie in 2002
Memories of their stormy third round defeat to Cardiff in 2002 still linger and Marsch said: ‘I was told Leeds were top of the league, it was an ugly match with a lot of physicality and in in the end we lost – and it was a bitter loss.
‘Back in the US as a player I lost [in a cup competition] in a pub league team with a goalkeeper who is like 40 pounds overweight.
‘He saved my punishment so that was pretty terrible for me!
Jesse Marsch said he knows the game and understands how important it is for the 6,500 traveling supporters
‘I was with Chivas USA and they were called Roma FC and it was probably a quarter final or round of 16 so they did very well to get to that stage.
‘Literally every time their guardian made a rescue, he fell to the ground and prayed thanks to God.
‘I think with the penalty, because he’s such a big man, he didn’t have to move to save it.
‘And on the other hand, I’ve won titles so any time you can lift a trophy that’s what it feels like – you never forget that.
Marsch reveals a story of his own cup of grief – telling an anecdote of a penalty he once missed
‘I’ve always been in teams and in clubs that value cup competitions.’
Marsch managed Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig before landing at Leeds in February.
He added: ‘Winning the double in Salzburg is a big emphasis every year.
‘Sometimes you play against pub league teams in the first round and you have to make sure you are ready for the tough moments.
‘We will have 6,500 fans in Cardiff, so we understand how important this game is.’
