Jesse Marsch issued Canada含羞草研究社檚 men含羞草研究社檚 soccer squad a challenge 含羞草研究社� get physical.
The edict came after the Canadians surprised many at this summer含羞草研究社檚 Copa America tournament, making it through to the semifinals. As his players departed for their professional clubs, the head coach wanted them thinking about continued growth.
含羞草研究社淚 challenged them to be more physically present in the matches that they played in,含羞草研究社� Marsch said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e tried to encourage all the players to sprint more, to win more duels, to win more balls, to be more dynamic in matches.含羞草研究社�
When Canada reconvened for a pair of friendlies last week, the coach saw some players had already heeded his call, including Vancouver Whitecaps product Ali Ahmed.
The 23-year-old midfielder started in both Canada含羞草研究社檚 2-1 victory over the United States on Saturday and Tuesday含羞草研究社檚 0-0 draw against Mexico.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 really happy for him,含羞草研究社� Marsch said. 含羞草研究社淚 think he含羞草研究社檚 still young and still has a lot of room and potential to continue to grow.含羞草研究社�
Playing under Marsch 含羞草研究社� who took over as head coach in May 含羞草研究社� has been a boon for the young athlete, currently in his second full season with Major League Soccer含羞草研究社檚 Whitecaps.
含羞草研究社淛esse has a very clear way of playing,含羞草研究社� Ahmed said. 含羞草研究社淎nd I think the way we含羞草研究社檝e been training and the way we含羞草研究社檝e been growing as a group, it含羞草研究社檚 been helpful for me.含羞草研究社�
The reward of getting minutes for a national team can spur a player含羞草研究社檚 growth, including Ahmed, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
含羞草研究社淥f course that fuels him inside to say 含羞草研究社楬ey, I want to be a better player. I want to get to that stage,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 said Sartini.
Vancouver had six players 含羞草研究社� including Ahmed 含羞草研究社� away on international duty during its 0-0 draw against Dallas FC on Saturday. The absences are a good problem to have, Sartini said.
含羞草研究社淏ecause we have players that are close to the national team, we have a lot of players that development is faster, better, bigger than it would have been if they hadn含羞草研究社檛 been called,含羞草研究社� he said.
Born in Toronto, Ahmed came up through the Whitecaps含羞草研究社� academy system and played for Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 MLS Next Pro side before cementing his spot on the first team in 2023. He put up two goals and two assists across 22 regular-season games, and added another goal and another helper in 19 appearances this year.
Taking the next step will require the five-foot-11, 154-pound Ahmed to push himself physically, Marsch said.
含羞草研究社淭actically, he含羞草研究社檚 technically gifted,含羞草研究社� the coach said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e told him he含羞草研究社檚 got to get in the gym more.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 a lot of these little things where too many guys, they still look like kids and we need to help them look like men and play like men. And that含羞草研究社檚 what the high standards of the game are about.含羞草研究社�
Marsch has quickly adjusted to recalibrating standards in his short time with Team Canada. Since taking over the squad in May, the coach said he含羞草研究社檚 learned the players are smarter and more capable than he originally thought, which forces the coach to constantly recalibrate his standards.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 my job right now, to keep raising the level of the demands,含羞草研究社� he said.
The way 40th-ranked Canada is viewed on the international stage is evolving, too.
含羞草研究社淚 think we含羞草研究社檙e changing the perception on the way we含羞草研究社檙e playing now,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 think beating the U.S. 含羞草研究社� it would have been nice to beat Mexico as well 含羞草研究社� the way we did, the way that we performed at Copa, I think teams are starting to look at us differently.
含羞草研究社淩ight now, I think we含羞草研究社檙e focused on ourselves. We含羞草研究社檙e definitely trying to be the best in CONCACAF and we have higher goals as well.含羞草研究社�
