Ayling has been the subject of criticism following his reckless challenge, which earned him a red card with more than an hour’s football left in Leeds’ 2-1 defeat at Arsenal over the weekend.
The defender has come under pressure for his recklessness as Leeds dropped to the bottom three with three league games left in the season.
However, the Leeds boss is providing his support to the player and believes he defines what the club have achieved over the last few years and the role he played in it.
He insisted that the time is not right to play the blame game and stressed the importance of the squad staying together as Leeds fight to save their Premier League status.
Marsch said in a press conference: “For me, the Luke Ayling is as much a definition of what this club have become as anything.
“Guys who came from the Championship and learned so much under Bielsa and helped this club become a Premier League side again.
“Luke defines what we want this club to be about.
“So I think about the fact that it hurts us as a team but I think more about Luke, how he’s feeling.
“It’s not the time for finger-pointing. It’s the time for sticking together.
“I’ve supported Luke.”
With Ayling suspended, Marsch will have to find a solution at right-back when Leeds take on Chelsea on Wednesday night.
