Jesse Marsch in public spat after Sam Allardyce's Leeds dig: "Learn to read pal"

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Two former Leeds bosses have fired digs at each other with Jesse Marsch slamming Sam Allardyce on social media after he claimed the team he inherited from the American wasn't fit enough.

Allardyce was handed a tough task in the final weeks of the 2022/23 season - coming in for the last four matches and tasked with keeping the Whites in the Premier League . He ultimately fell short, picking up one point from the four outings he took charge of.

The former England boss was the third man to manage Leeds in their relegation season with Marsch and Javi Gracia leading them before Big Sam was handed the reigns.

Allardyce thought a Leeds side that weren't long removed from Marcelo Bielsa's stint would have retained their peak fitness levels - but claimed that wasn't the case.

He told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast : "Bielsa had the top physical stats in the Premier League, Leeds were No 1. So when I went to Leeds I thought: 'At least they are fit.' [But Leeds were] bottom three [in fitness stats].

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"The two managers after Bielsa allowed the physical stats to drop into the Premier League's bottom three. I thought: 'If we are in the top six at least we are fit enough to stay in the game, organise ourselves.' I remember when I was manager of West Brom , [Bielsa's Leeds] were still going in the last 20 minutes as fast as they were in the first 20 minutes."

Marsch fired back on social media, showing data which indicated that Leeds led the Premier League in metrics for kilometres covered, metres covered, high speed sprints, high speed runs and sprints. He responded to Allardyce's criticism: "Really?" And then said to a critical fan: "Game week 1-20. Learn to read pal."

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Marsch spent just shy of a year in charge at Elland Road and was able to keep Leeds in the top flight when he initially arrived. He masterminded a win on the final day of the 2021/22 season as the Whites secured three points at Brentford with Raphinha scoring a late winner.

The American's time was bought to an end in the February after a 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest - Leeds' seventh Premier League game without a win. Marsch's replacement, Gracia, later just 10 weeks and 12 games in charge at Elland Road.

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