Expert: Jesse Marsch trying to ‘fix’ Marcelo Bielsa problem at Leeds United with ‘magic’ tech
Jesse Marsch is using Zone7 technology in training to help address the major injury and fitness issues present at Leeds United during Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
When Marsch was appointed Leeds boss back in February 2022, he took over a struggling squad plagued with injury.
The American steered the Whites to safety, and then in the summer partnered with Zone7 – a data-driven technology system that helps to maximise the availability of athletes.
Leeds coach Tom Robinson spoke last month (7 December) about the ‘Magic Number‘ method used by the Whites, where he was tasked with reading the high metabolic load distance to Marsch to maximise each training session for every player.
Dinnery believes that Marsch can use the improvement in training technology to help fix the fitness and injury issues that were so prominent during Bielsa’s time at Elland Road.
“We know Leeds have been working with Zone7 technology to manage injury burden and increase the availability of players,” Dinnery told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Ultimately, you can have the best squad in the world, but unless you’re able to get 11 fully fit players out on the pitch, then it means absolutely nothing.
“Leeds had some well-documented fitness issues certainly under Marcelo Bielsa when it came to keeping those players fit, and Jesse Marsch is trying to fix that with his methods.
“They’re a top-flight team who aren’t blessed with the biggest budget in terms of being able to manage a big squad and being able to recruit heavily so the importance is maintaining that level of availability within the core group of your team.
“Long gone are the days now where all players are just grouped together and beasted in sessions, they are a lot more individualised now.
“Ultimately what you want to do is not only minimise the risk of injury, but you want to optimise the chance of performance on matchday.“
In other news, Football Insider sources reveal Leeds United have given the green light for Joe Gelhardt to leave this month