{"id":91732,"date":"2026-05-06T19:02:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/marsch-praise-for-kone-but-blasts-real-ahole-de-zerbi-over-canmnt-talent-fight-in-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T19:02:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:02:22","slug":"marsch-praise-for-kone-but-blasts-real-ahole-de-zerbi-over-canmnt-talent-fight-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/marsch-praise-for-kone-but-blasts-real-ahole-de-zerbi-over-canmnt-talent-fight-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Marsch praise for Kone, but blasts ‘real a**hole’ De Zerbi over CANMNT talent fight in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"SASSUOLO,<\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

SASSUOLO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Ismael Kone of Sassuolo celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Udinese Calcio at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on September 28, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Canada coach Jesse Marsch has slammed Italian tactician Roberto De Zerbi for being \u2018a real a**hole\u2019 with Sassuolo and CANMNT midfielder Ismael Kone. \u2018Now look at him flourishing.\u2019<\/p>\n

The shocking outburst happened when Marsch was speaking to the Call It What You Want podcast on CBS Sports Golazo America.<\/p>\n

He was asked which player had improved the most for Canada and named Sassuolo midfielder Kone, who has flourished this season in Serie A.<\/p>\n

However, he also used it as an opportunity to blame one of Kone\u2019s former coaches, as De Zerbi famously humiliated the young player in training at Olympique Marseille.<\/p>\n

Marsch praise for Kone is criticism for De Zerbi<\/h2>\n
\"MADRID,
MADRID, SPAIN \u2013 SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cYou know, when I took over the team, I think Ismael was a raw, talented person,\u201d Marsch said on the podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd since then, I\u2019ve talked to him a lot 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to Italy and playing for a team that was newly promoted, and having to fight through a situation like that in a very organised league, he\u2019s played an incredibly important role in that team and had a great year.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I mean, it would probably be easy to say that Ismael is the one. Not just from what I\u2019ve done with him and what the national team has done with him but also what he\u2019s been able to achieve in his career, and the steps he\u2019s been able to make through difficulty I might add.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it wasn\u2019t easy with De Zerbi and Marseille. De Zerbi was a real, real a**hole with him and he stayed strong. He never doubted himself. He found a new situation, and now look at him flourishing.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me reiterate. De Zerbi was a real a**hole with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MILAN,<\/source><\/picture>
MILAN, ITALY \u2013 DECEMBER 14: Ismael Kone of US Sassuolo Calcio celebrates scoring his team\u2019s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Sassuolo Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The incident in training was when Kone failed to follow some instructions, so De Zerbi declared loudly that he should get off the field and \u201ccall your agent\u201d to find another club, because he would not be getting another opportunity with Marseille.<\/p>\n

De Zerbi has since left Olympique Marseille too and is now the coach of Tottenham Hotspur, trying to drag them out of the Premier League relegation zone.<\/p>\n

\"GENOA,<\/source><\/picture>
GENOA, ITALY \u2013 APRIL 12: Ismael Kon\u00e9 of Sassuolo (4th from right) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for Kone, the 23-year-old made the move to Sassuolo in July 2025 on loan for \u20ac2.5m, making it permanent for a further \u20ac10m over the summer.<\/p>\n

The Canada international scored six goals in 32 Serie A appearances this season.<\/p>\n