I’m ashamed of Donald Trump, says Canada’s football manager - Iqraa news

Jesse Marsch has said he is “ashamed” of Donald Trump’s “ridiculous rhetoric” towards the country since the US president’s return to the White House.

The Canada coach ferociously hit back at Trump’s “arrogance and disregard” for suggesting earlier this month that Canada could become the 51st state of the US.

Marsch is American, but on Wednesday he said that the acceptance from his players since taking the national team job nine months ago has made him feel like a Canadian.

“If I have one message to our president, it’s: lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state,” said the former Leeds United manager appearing on a four-person panel ahead of next month’s Concacaf Nations League finals in Los Angeles.

“As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard we’ve shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies.”

Tensions have already boiled over in an ice hockey match

Earlier this month, Trump described Canada as a “very serious contender” to become a 51st US state during a press briefing in the Oval Office. “Why would we pay $200 billion a year in subsidies to Canada when they are not a state? You do that for a state, but you don’t do that for somebody else’s country,” Trump said.

Cross-border tensions have already played out in sport in February, with choruses of anti-Donald Trump booing and fights between players at the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey in Canada.

When asked about the potential of tensions if Canada play the US in the Nations League next month, Marsch said he found some of the rhetoric in recent weeks as “unsettling and frankly insulting”.

“Canada is a strong, independent nation that’s deeply rooted in decency, and it’s a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarised, disrespectful and often now, hate-fuelled climate that’s in the US,” he said.

“Canada values a lot of fairness and unity. It’s a place that I’ve learned as the Canada coach where people really believe that their differences make them stronger and honestly, it’s one of the things that I’ve enjoyed the most about our team, is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team.

“They’re almost all first- and second-generation Canadians coming from different heritage and cultures, but they uniquely are incredibly proud Canadians to represent their country, to give everything to each other and the love that they have for each other and playing for their country.”

Since his inauguration last month, Trump has also labelled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “the Governor of Canada”.

Marsch added: “I couldn’t be prouder to be the Canadian national team coach. I found a place where that embodies, for me, the ideals and morals of what not just football and a team is, but what life is, and that’s integrity, respect and the belief that good people can do great things together.

“One thing’s for sure: When I look forward to a month from now, is I know that this will fuel our team, the mentality we have, the will we have to play for our country, the desire we have to go after this tournament in every way and to show on and off the pitch exactly what Canadian character is.

“So, obviously I really look forward to the challenge of playing Mexico but the tournament as a whole, and I guarantee that our team will be ready.”