Jesse Marsh used to become skeptical of believers and make history • Tonight the US coach will try to shake the Champions League with Salzburg and kick the European Champions Liverpool home

• Halland flees to Fabinio in the previous meeting between Salzburg and Liverpool

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  IP

Few people who truly believe Bull Salzburg will knock Liverpool out of the Champions League tonight. And not only because the European champions collected 46 points from a possible 48 points in the Premier League and a monstrous football game this season, but also because the Austrian victory would not necessarily suffice. In order for the English to finish their way this evening they must lose to Red Bull and Naples will not lose to Gank, and as the Italians seem recently - a Belgian victory is not far-fetched.

In general, there are many doubts about the chances of the Austrian champion to qualify for the eighth, and just here her coach Jesse Marsh comes into the picture. Because if there is one thing that characterizes his coaching career is the ability to turn skeptics into believers.

Yes, it is well known that the last sentence was attributed to his opponent Jurgen Klopp, but long before the German told him at the first press conference as Liverpool manager, the American actually made it as a New York Red Bulls coach. It was in 2015, when eight of the team coach in place of Mike Patke, a club legend, that Marsh met the skeptics for the first time.

It was the New York team fans who did not get the idea that the inexperienced coach would replace their loved one. Before the season opened, at a press conference, they cursed the professional manager and tried to work out the fate of the coach before he started working. Marsh remained calm.

"You don't have to love me, it's not my job as a coach," he said. "We might lose and maybe win, but give me and the team a chance." So they gave. And Marsh not only won, he won more than any coach in team history, which led to him winning the Community Shield, being named Coach of the Year, and leaving in 2018 as a legend.

Marsh. Charismatic Motivator // Photo: Reuters

With the belief that he could also succeed overseas, the 46-year-old Marsh came to Red Bull Leipzig with the goal of undergoing a European overlap under Ralph Rangnik. As an assistant coach, he was partnered for a season that ended with a third place in the Bundesliga, and so he was given permission to spread wings to the next destination in the corporate chain. The Red Bull Salzburg head coach had just vacated, but then the skeptics came in again. "Not to Marsh!" Written on signs in the group's stands in the news of his arrival.

Austrian fans refused to believe that an inexperienced American coach could lead their team to achievement, but Marsh very quickly converted them as well. Six months after arriving, the team ranks first in the league, unbeaten and averaging 3.7 goals per game. In the Champions League, Salzburg recorded its first win since 1994, and it comes to tonight's game with chances to advance to the eighth.

So how does Marsh convert skeptics to believers? First of all, with the basics. "Tactics, technique, game of dedication - it's only half the job," he said, with half of that including offensive football, high pressure play and successful execution of the simple things. This season's Salzburg is a scoring machine headed by Erling Heland at 28 goals this season, but that's only half as much.

Klopp. Need to worry? // Photo: Reuters

"The other half is mentality, identity formation and team building," he explained. The previous match against Liverpool, where the team went back from 3: 0 to 3: 3 at Anfield before losing 4: 3 highlighted the "mentality". Marsh's motivational speech at halftime - which included shouting and cursing - turned to Calette and introduced the coach as a charismatic motivator. Tonight, having already become the first American in history to win the Champions League and named to larger teams, Marsh will once again try to turn skeptics into believers and send Salzburg to the final 16. Don't give him a chance? Just wait and see.

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At home, Leo Messi and Gerard Pique are not on the Barcelona roster for the match against Inter, where a win will secure the Italians a place in the eighth final regardless of what Dortmund will do against Celebia Prague.

The closest house of all is House H, where three groups are independent. Ajax needs a home draw against Valencia, while the Spanish will be in the eighth with a win in Amsterdam. Chelsea will host Lil when a win is enough for her, as well as a draw in case Valencia lose to Ajax. Beit Jalon will host Leipzig when a victory sends it to the eighth with the Germans. Zenith will be there if you win in Benfica and Lyon will compete against Leipzig.