For a section of supporters it was from the beginning, because he was not his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa.
The Bielsa supporters found it difficult to accept Marsch even though the club’s position in the Premier League was parlous with a dozen games to go when the Argentine was sacked.
Others were adamant that an American coach would not work, while the majority, especially after securing last-day survival at Brentford, remained sceptical but open to the idea that he had earned his chance to start this season.
Losing Raphinha to Barcelona and Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City were blows, but reinvesting the money to buy Tyler Adams, Marc Roca, Rasmus Kristensen, Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra and Wilfried Gnonto was a clear sign that the club were backing their man.
The squad was arguably stronger. But as the games passed the narrow style Marsch was trying to implement failed to produce consistent performances, attractive football or results.
Marsch, a likeable, well-travelled and educated man whose elaborate management speak could sometimes confuse supporters, who were increasingly failing to see theory in practice.
Like Bielsa he did have to cope with significant injuries to experienced players – Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Adam Forshaw in particular – and the inability to purchase an experienced left-back to compete with Junior Firpo, who struggled for form and fitness, seemed short-sighted on the club’s part.
There were glimpses of what might have been with a stunning 3-0 win over Chelsea in August. But only two more league wins were to follow, including a late winner at Liverpool in October on a night which many thought would be his last in charge after the crowd had turned on him and the board following awful performances and results against Leicester City and at home to Fulham.
He survived against the odds and the board gave him the World Cup break to imbue his footballing philosophy in his squad, but three points from 18 on the other side of it have left United in a relegation battle, which Marsch said they were not involved in after what he called “a complete performance” in the 2-1 loss at Aston Villa three weeks ago.
Fans saw and thought differently. After almost a year in charge it seemed beyond him to coach the squad to its potential, which by January included a record signing in Georginio Rutter, Austria defender Max Wober and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie on loan.
Ultimately, the club’s place in the top flight, a huge investment and a pending takeover by minority shareholders San Francisco 49ers Enterprises from majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani were all jeopardised.
And so decisive action was taken following the defeat at Nottingham Forest. Chief executive Angus Kinnear and director of football Victor Orta delivered the news in person to Marsch at the club’s Thorp Arch Academy after he had taken training for the final time.
