Jesse Marsh has issued a challenge to the Canadian men’s soccer team: warm up.
The edict came after Canada surprised many in the Copa America tournament this summer, reaching the semifinals. With his players leaving for professional clubs, the coach wanted them to think about continuing their development.
When Canada regrouped for two friendlies last week, the coach saw several players already following his decision, including Vancouver Whitecaps forward Ali Ahmed.
The 23-year-old midfielder started in both Canada’s 2-1 win over the United States on Saturday and their 0-0 draw with Mexico on Tuesday.
“I’m really happy for him,” Marsch said. “He’s still young and I think he has a lot of room and potential to continue to grow.”
WATCH | Canada wins long-awaited victory over Americans on U.S. soil:
Jonathan David scored as Canada beat England 2-1 in an international friendly in Kansas City.
Being under the tutelage of Marsch, who took over as manager in May, has been a huge boost for the youngster, who is now in his second season with the Whitecaps in Major League Soccer.
“Jesse has a very clear style of play,” Ahmed said. “And I think the way we’ve trained and the way we’ve grown as a group has helped me.”
Whitecaps coach Barney Sartini said getting international minutes could help players, including Ahmed, grow.
“Of course that fuels him to say, ‘Hey, I want to be a better player. I want to get to that level,'” Sartini said.
Vancouver had six players, including Ahmed, out on international duty for Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Dallas FC. Sartini said the absences were a good thing.
“We have players on our team who are close to the national team, so we have a lot of players who could develop faster, better and bigger than if they had not been called up to the national team,” he said.
Born in Toronto, Ahmed came through the Whitecaps’ academy system and played for Vancouver’s MLS Next Pro team before solidifying his spot with the first team in 2023. He had two goals and two assists in 22 regular season games, and has added a goal and an assist in 19 games this year.
Marsh said Ahmed, who stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 154 pounds, will have to push himself physically to get to the next level.
“Tactically, he’s technically gifted,” the coach said. “I told him he needs to go to the gym more.
“There are so many little things like this where there are so many guys. They still look like kids, and we have to help them look like men and play like men. That’s the high standard of the game.”
WATCH | Canada-Mexico fail to find breakthrough in scoreless draw:
Canada and Mexico played to a scoreless draw in an international friendly in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
Marsch has quickly adapted to recalibrating the standards in his short time with Team Canada. Since taking over the team in May, the coach has found that the players are smarter and more capable than he originally thought, forcing him to constantly recalibrate the standards.
“What I have to do now is keep raising the bar,” he said.
The way Canada, ranked 40th, is viewed on the international stage is also changing.
“I think there’s a perception that we’re doing the way we are now,” he said. “I think we beat the United States. I wish we had beaten Mexico. I think the way we did it, the way we showed in the Copa, teams are starting to look at us differently.
“I think we’re just focused on ourselves right now. We’re definitely trying to be the best in CONCACAF and we have higher goals as well.”
