Soccer Football – Copa América 2024 – Group A – Argentina v Canada – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, United States – June 20, 2024 Canada coach Jesse Marsch reacts REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
Former Leeds United coach Jesse Marsch is back at work and is now in charge of Canada’s national team heading into the Copa America.
Leeds’ managerial changes during their time in the Premier League were a key issue that contributed to their relegation.
Jesse Marsch was one of those who tried unsuccessfully to stop Leeds’ slide, although he admirably delayed the inevitable by a year with survival in 2022, before the chinks in the armor became gaping holes that were exploited week after week.
Jesse Marsch’s journey to the Copa América in Canada begins with the defeat against Lionel Messi’s Argentina
Marsch couldn’t have started his new job, in charge of Canada’s national team, it couldn’t have been much more difficult.
Their Copa América campaign began against world champions Argentina and, as expected, Lionel Messi’s team got off to a winning start as the striker shined, with Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez scoring.
Marsch’s Canada’s 2-0 defeat was not a total disaster in the opening match, and they now hope to face Peru and Chile.
Happy to have Aaronson back?
Jesse Marsch’s full-time evaluation sounds pretty familiar
Not that Canadian fans or higher-ups expected Marsch to mastermind Argentina, but still, the American was excited by what he saw.
Speaking after the match, Marsch had this to say about his energetic display that earned the admiration of those watching (via Joshua Kloke):
“We are performing better than I expected, but we are making simpler mistakes than I expected.
“I’m not too worried about not finishing. I know that over time, when you have those kinds of quality opportunities, you will score enough goals and we will have enough quality on the field.”
He’s right in what he says, from all indications, about how the Canadians fared against arguably the toughest opponents in the world.
Juxtapose those quotes with those after his first game at Leeds, and you get a familiar picture of “encouragement” (via The Guardian):
“It was a really simple message: that this was very positive and a big step in the right direction.
“I want them to know how strong that was, how good that was. We need to relieve some stress. I told them: ‘If we keep playing like this, we’re going to get all the points we need.’ The only negative thing is the result. What a great first step.”
Leeds were decent in Marsch’s first game at Leicester, losing 1-0 through Harvey Barnes of course, but the finishing problems in Canada’s first game were also worrying in that King Power defeat – Leeds should having had two or three that day.
With Marsch against the good teams, Leeds fans left many games saying “well, if we play like that against the lesser teams, we’ll be fine,” and the Canadians will feel the same, but those performances never came against teams of a similar level. opposition.
Organizing a spirited press by Marsch in the first match of the tournament is more praise than can be given to a given coach at the Euros.
