Jesse is heating up the match this weekend.
Canadian men’s national team manager, Jesse Marsch, had some things to say about the U.S. men’s national team ahead of the upcoming clash between Canada and the United States.
On CBS Sports’ “Call It What You Want” Podcast, Marsch was asked all sorts of questions revolving around the USMNT, this amidst the upcoming friendly fixture between Canada and the USMNT on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Marsch, to no one’s surprise, did not hold back when it came to down to criticizing the U.S., making waves on social media after claiming that a lot of the players essentially ‘turned their back’ on Gregg Berhalter following his sacking.
Jesse Marsch criticizes USMNT players prior to friendly fixture
When asked by Jimmy Conrad if ‘the USMNT’s player pool needs to get tougher,’ Marsch used it as an opportunity to call-out a lot of USMNT players who were asking for the return of Berhalter, but then were quick to say the national team ‘needed to move on’ following their Copa América 2024 group stage exit.
“A lot of the players that were clamoring to get Gregg [Berhalter] back were also the one that are now saying it’s time to move on,” said Marsch.
“I don’t know, for me, this sport has to be about constantly being challenged to be the best. Period.
“I don’t care who the coach is, there shouldn’t be a comfortability, there should always be a drive to be better… you want the process of growth and improvement to be an enjoyable one but it has to be about demands,” he added.
"A lot of the players that were clamoring to get Gregg [Berhalter] back were also that ones that are now saying that it's time to move on." @jessemarsch weighs in on the process of growth at the national team level and the "obsession to be the best" pic.twitter.com/iCwW9aijUe
— Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) September 4, 2024
Following the 2022 World Cup, Berhalter’s end-of-contract and the USMNT’s managerial search in 2023 prior to Berhalter’s reappointment, Marsch criticized U.S. Soccer for their mistreatment in the interview process.
“My respect for U.S. Soccer is big, but I went through a process with them, right? And I'm not going to go into it, but I wasn't treated very well in the process," Marsch told CBS' "Call it What You Want" podcast.
Months later, Marsch was announced as Canada’s head coach, leading the national team to the semifinals of the Copa América for the first time ever.
Now, Marsch will face the USMNT for the first time since taking over The Maples when they meet in Kansas City on Saturday.
