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Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has called his Tottenham Hotspur counterpart Roberto De Zerbi a "real, ass----" over the Italian's handling of young midfielder Ismaël Koné during their shared stint at Marseille.
Koné has emerged as one of Marsch's most relied-upon internationals this season, locking down a place in Canada's starting lineup while excelling at club level in Serie A with Sassuolo.
However, as Marsch was eager to highlight during his appearance on Call It What You Want, Koné had to navigate "difficulties" at Marseille that—in his view—were directly caused by the then-outspoken manager De Zerbi.
The 'Difficulties' De Zerbi Caused Koné at Marseille
Ironically, it was Marseille themselves who released the damning footage of their own manager. The French club put out weekly behind-the-scenes documentary episodes in the summer of 2025, featuring unseen footage from matchdays, the dressing room and, most notably, the training ground.
It was during one such session that De Zerbi was captured on camera laying into Koné, who had only joined from Watford for approximately $14 million a few months prior. "Oh my God!" De Zerbi is heard shouting as players participate in a small-sided passing drill. "When I tell you to reduce the touches, reduce the touches!"
Koné pushed back, saying: "I couldn't play!" but received little sympathy in return. After instructing the then-22-year-old to leave training, De Zerbi screamed: "Call your agent, call your agent to come here!"
The pair had to be pulled apart, and Koné was quickly loaned out to Ligue 1 rivals Rennes in February 2025. Following four months there, the Canadian international was loaned again to Sassuolo the following summer before completing a permanent transfer to the newly promoted club in February of this year.
'Let Me Reiterate'—Marsch Doubles Down on De Zerbi Criticism
"It wasn't easy with De Zerbi and Marseille," Marsch stressed while reflecting on Koné's remarkable turnaround since departing the south of France. "De Zerbi was a real, real ass---- with him and he stayed strong. He never lost faith in himself. He found a new environment, and now look at him thriving."
As the podcast hosts attempted to move the conversation forward, Marsch cut in to drive his point home: "Let me reiterate. De Zerbi was a real ass---- with him."
Marsch did not entirely shield Koné from criticism, acknowledging that the midfielder has matured considerably as both a player and an individual in recent years.
"You know, when I took over the team [Canada], I think Ismaël was a raw, talented person," Marsch recalled. "And since then, I've spoken to him a great deal 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.
"Going to Italy and playing for a newly promoted side, and having to battle through a situation like that in a highly structured league, he's played an incredibly vital role for that team and had a fantastic year."
Sassuolo have already secured their top-flight status and could even finish in the upper half of the Serie A table following a remarkable debut season back in the top division. Koné may further his personal growth with a strong performance at this summer's World Cup, which Canada will co-host. De Zerbi's native Italy would have been set to face Marsch's Maple Leafs in Toronto had they managed to qualify for the tournament.