Canadian national team head coach Jesse Marsch is not usually one to shy away from speaking his mind, and this time around, it has led him to call out newly appointed Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi.
In charge of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts since May 2024, following stints with Leeds United and RB Leipzig, former U.S. Menâs National Team midfielder Marsch was recently asked to delve into which players he feels have improved most since he took on the role.
Discussing the 23-year-old midfielder, who previously played under De Zerbi at Marseille, Marsch said on the âCall It What You Wantâ podcast, âWhen I took over the team, I think IsmaĂ«l was a raw, talented person.
âAnd since then, I've talked to him a lot about discipline and concentration and everything from what that means in his daily life, in his nutrition, in his sleep habits, in the way he trains and the way he shows up every day, in the way he plays, in his overall intelligence.
âGoing to Italy and playing for a team that was newly promoted, and having to fight through a situation like that in a very organized league, he's played an incredibly important role in that team, theyâve had a great year, heâs had an incredible year.
âSo I mean, it would probably be easy to say that IsmaĂ«l is the one.
âNot just from what I've done with him and what the national team has done with him but also what he's been able to achieve in his career, and the steps he's been able to make through difficulty I might add.
âBecause it wasn't easy with De Zerbi in Marseille. De Zerbi was a real, real aâ--- with him, and he stayed strong. He never doubted himself. He found a new situation, and now look at him flourishing.
âLet me reiterate. De Zerbi was a real aâ--- with him.â
