Leeds have plan to benefit from Raphinha and Phillips exits as boss makes bold prediction
The departures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, two key players for Leeds, will allow head coach Jesse Marsch to better integrate the team with his playing philosophy. The Whites paid almost £110 million for the pair and have since spent the money on players who are familiar with Marsch’s methods. The American feels this will ultimately strengthen his team.
After selling their greatest players, respectively, to Manchester City and Barcelona, there have been some worries that Leeds would struggle. But we bought six more additions with the money we received for both.
Three of them have been bought from the Red Bull organization. Brenden Aaronson, an attacking midfielder, and Rasmus Kristensen, a fullback, have both joined from RB Salzburg, while Tyler Adams, a midfielder, has come from RB Leipzig. Both clubs have been led by Marsch.
Leeds also acquired winger Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord and midfielders Darko Gyabi and Marc Roca from Man City and Bayern Munich, respectively. Marsch thinks the club has been able to remodel the squad in his image as a result of Phillips and Raphinha’s exits.
The 48-year-old told reporters prior to Leeds’ 2022-23 Premier League opener against Wolves, “We lost two great players, but it has allowed us to bring in six, seven, or eight guys that can help us even more precisely the sort of football that we want to play.
Working with Kalvin and Raphinha was wonderful, and I am grateful for the time I spent with them. We adore how dedicated they were to everything they did here. But I firmly believe that we will use the circumstance to fortify us.
The new acquisitions cost about £100 million. The 21-year-old Aaronson’s £25 million arrival is the most costly.
Marsch had the following response when asked how well the team had supported him this summer: “It was easy for me to understand from the first day that I came in, that the club and the people here at Thorp Arch and at Elland Road had supported Marcelo [Bielsa] 100%. All things considered, they exerted every effort.
“Everyone, including the players, the coaching staff, and the support personnel, said that. I saw that as a tremendous opportunity for myself and as a real good. You’re obviously referring to our transfer politics, but I believe even more so if you were to observe the daily work that is done. I can only say that, starting on the first day, I have never felt more supported in my life.
“The fact that this is the scenario is a great honor to the members of this club and the membership in general.”
