Jack Harrison on joining Jesse Marsch at Leeds United: ‘It was tough’

Premier League professional in an interview

From the youth of Manchester United to Major League Soccer and from there to the Premier League: Leeds United’s Jack Harrison has had an unusual start to his career. In an interview with Transfermarkt.uk, the 25-year-old winger talks about his path so far, his ambitions in the English national team, the relegation battle and the change of coach from Marcelo Bielsa to Jesse Marsch.

“I’m a risk guy,” Harrison told Transfermarkt.uk of his unusual journey to the Premier League. “I left Manchester United to go to school in the US and chose MLS instead of going back to England and starting my professional career there.” In 2010, Harrison went to Black Rock FC Academy, landing via Manhattan SC at Wake Forest University. Chicago Fire picked the winger as the number one pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, and just a day later New York City FC engineered a trade that brought Harrison to the Big Apple in part in exchange for fourth-best player, the now-retired Brandon Vincent .

“My time at NYCFC was crucial for my development as a player,” says Harrison today. “Getting my first pro minutes and seeing the likes of Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Frank Lampard train on a daily basis was incredibly important and a unique experience that I will never forget.”

Harrison recorded 14 goals and 10 assists in 61 games for NYCFC in all competitions, taking his market value to €1.75 million. In 2018 he moved to New York City’s parent club Manchester City for €4 million – the most expensive sale in the history of the MLS club to date.

However, Harrison should never play a competitive game for the “Citizens”. After a loan spell at Middlesbrough FC, Leeds United secured the then 22-year-old’s services on a three-season loan. A move that should prove very beneficial for both sides. The 25-year-old established himself as a regular and leader under Marcelo Bielsa, helping the club rise to the Premier League and playing a key role in staying up last season.

Harrison on Leeds United time: Working with Bielsa ‘a unique opportunity’

“I love projects, and when athletic director Victor Orta presented the opportunity to my agent, Remington Ellis Management, I couldn’t say no,” Harrison said. “The daily work with Marcelo was a unique opportunity. His knowledge and experience of football is second to none and I can honestly say that every player on the team learned a lot from him and he helped us understand what it takes to be a footballer at a top club.”

Harrison recorded six goals and eight assists in 46 Championship games in the 2019/20 season and helped Leeds gain promotion at the end of the season. A year later it was eight goals and eight assists in 36 Premier League games – enough to convince Leeds to sign the left-footed player for €12.8m.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised by my development because I’ve always had confidence in myself as a person and as a player. But I’m grateful that the hard work I’ve put in is now paying off,” Harrison said when asked about his time at Leeds. “It was difficult for me to adjust to life in England at first, but I’ve now learned that the game goes beyond the four lines of the pitch. I have to be fit in every facet of my game – physically, mentally, tactically and technically.”

This development does not end for Harrison: the attacking player has also delivered this season and has scored seven goals and one assist in 29 Premier League games. But Leeds are struggling and stuck in the relegation battle. In February, the club sacked Bielsa and replaced him with former Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch.

Harrison: Bielsa’s exit ‘was tough’ – praise for Jesse Marsch

“It was tough,” Harrison said when asked about Bielsa’s replacement by Marsch. “I worked under Marcelo for over three years; he has trusted me over 150 times. I hope to be able to work with him again soon, but we had to hit the ground running under Jesse. It was important for me to show the new coach that I’m just as willing to give everything for him.”

With Marsch, the “Whites” collected ten points from four games after two defeats at the start and left the relegation zone. “His experience as a coach and his positive attitude within the team are crucial for us being able to score points for the rest of the season,” said Harrison, who knows Marsch from New York, where the 48-year-old coached the Red Bulls. “I’ve already learned so much from him and luckily I can score for him and don’t have to score against him.”

Harrison is satisfied with his own season and continues to believe in his debut in the England national team, for which he was only allowed to play at youth level. “I hope to score ten Premier League goals. My goal is to be on the plane to Qatar but of course England have quite a lot of talented players in my position. I’ll just stay focused, keep working for Leeds and hope for the best.”

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