Jesse Marsch incorrect on 'unique' trait as Leeds United prepare for Tottenham Hotspur opportunity

Questions about the US Men's National Team and their World Cup chances were inevitable for the twice-capped Wisconsin native in his final pre-game press conference ahead of the international tournament break.

Marsch's coaching career began with the national team and although he initially professed not to care about who would win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because he's so wrapped up in all things Leeds, he went on to talk about how he will be cheering on his countrymen, chiefly his own Whites players Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams, when they take on England. That game, he believes, has the potential to bring out something special in the men adorned by stars and stripes.

"I know it will take their absolute best performance to have a chance but I think that's one of the things that's uniquely American is that sense of fearlessness," he said. "And we almost thrive and enjoy the moments when things are the hardest and when everyone expects us to lose."

That sounds just like another team he knows, who have shone most brightly this season against those carrying all the weight of expectation.

Later in his press conference Marsch talked about the benefits of a break from a league that draws so much media attention and such intensive scrutiny. This has been a stressful campaign, for a number of reasons, for Leeds United, where the pressure can go from nought to 60 in the blink of an eye, never mind an eight-game winless streak. Marsch and his players have been right under it, hearing it in boos and feeling it in too many games and points eluding their grasp.

But the times when the stress has weakened its grip most noticeably have come when the opposition is a very good side, boasting very good players. Against Chelsea, despite what the soon-to-be-sacked Thomas Tuchel said, Leeds were very good themselves, and they replicated that against Arsenal, especially in the second half. At Liverpool, even if Jurgen Klopp's men are having a time of it themselves, few gave the Whites a chance and yet the three points they came away with were in no way undeserved.

This afternoon, in the grand surroundings of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, against Harry Kane and the side sitting fourth in the Premier League, Leeds will carry with them momentum from victories over Liverpool and Bournemouth but no real external expectation or pressure. That kind of environment does not offer up the free hit some will speak of, or a scenario where Leeds have nothing to lose, because games like this hold a very real possibility of a frightful beating. Lose a game badly enough and you can lose face and the favour of the crowd.

What this game does offer is a chance for Leeds to prove again their fearlessness. That's exactly what it takes to commit to an aggressive style of football, particularly defensively, when you come up against players of the highest quality who can with one touch or pass make your press look flimsy and expose ruthlessly any weaknesses in your shape. And though Leeds have looked vulnerable in moments against 'big six' sides, they have also looked dangerous. Had they taken a chance against Arsenal and earned a point it would have been an entirely just outcome. Against Chelsea and Liverpool, when the moments came to decide the result, Leeds showed no fear whatsoever.

That's perhaps where the relative youth of the team comes into its own, because players like men of the moment Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto are too young to be burdened with the responsibility and real world consequences of survival or relegation. Even the older heads, however, those eyeing the next and possibly last contract, those with families and thoughts turning to post-playing life, have demonstrated on a number of occasions that they can play with next to no regard for the consequences or respect for Champions League status. The bigger they are, the more appetite there seems to be at Leeds to knock them down. In the club's first season after promotion none of the big six were able to taste victory at Elland Road and a handful of the heroes who won at Manchester City with 10 men will be involved today.

Beyond Spurs, Marsch feels the break will be good for Leeds, but how much better will it be if they take with them seven points from a possible nine, or, whisper it, all nine? The same fearlessness that did for Chelsea and Liverpool is their best route to that dreamland scenario.

Given the identity of the opposition for the final two games of 2022 when the break is over - Manchester City and upwardly mobile Newcastle United - Leeds would do well to remain in their underdog mindset and stance, swinging recklessly to punch above their weight, to end a difficult year on a high. No Patrick Bamford or Mateusz Klich and maybe no Jack Harrison will add to the difficulty today, when everyone will expect Leeds to lose.

Marsch cannot promise a result, but he's promising that American fearlessness. That Leeds fearlessness.

"The beauty of where we are is we are not perfect but we are also not afraid," he said.

"We have shown that this year, that we are not afraid of top opponents and for sure we are going to go down to Tottenham and we are going to play confidently and we are going to go after the game in every way."