Jesse Marsch, the coach of the Canadian national team, speaks highly of his striker Jonathan David following his transfer to Juventus. Marsch believes David has a bright future in Italy, stating, “I`m happy he chose the Bianconeri; he will find everything he is looking for in Italy. He and Osimhen would be a 50-goal pair.”
Marsch has a proven track record of developing prolific forwards. During his time in the Red Bull system, he coached young stars like Erling Haaland, Karim Adeyemi, and Benjamin Sesko at Salzburg, and worked with Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku at Leipzig. The 51-year-old American coach, who also managed Leeds in the Premier League, asserts, “They are all different types of strikers. But in terms of sheer value, David is right after Haaland.”
Q: David chose Italy and Juventus despite his contract expiring and receiving many offers. Were you surprised?
A: I`m not surprised because Juventus is a top club. Jonathan`s representatives had discussed the possibility with me recently when we were still involved in the Gold Cup. Many big European clubs inquired about him in the past few months. I`m happy Jonathan chose Juventus.
Q: Why?
A: Jonathan had three main priorities: playing in the Champions League, joining a club with a winning history, and having the opportunity for regular playing time. He will find all of that at Juventus. And since I have a fondness for Italy and a house near Viareggio, I now have an extra reason to visit your country. I will definitely attend Pisa-Juventus and visit Turin too.
Q: What kind of striker is David?
A: He`s a top player. His primary quality is his intelligence: he understands football and, more importantly, he reads the different moments of the game, which is why he scores so much. He combines technical skill with innate timing; he scores in every way imaginable.
Q: He is nicknamed “Iceman.” Do you agree?
A: He truly is. Watch him closely in the box: he never loses his composure; he`s calm and cold. As a result, he`s ruthless. He demonstrated this quality last year while his contract was expiring: it`s not easy for anyone to score 25 goals as he did and come to the Gold Cup leaving market thoughts off the field.
Q: David finished with 26, 26, and 25 goals in his last three seasons at Lille. Do you think he will repeat this at Juventus and compete for the Serie A top scorer title?
A: Jonathan has everything needed to score 25 goals again at Juventus. Serie A has great strikers, but David will certainly be fighting for the top scorer ranking.
Q: David arrives at Juventus, where Dusan Vlahovic is already present.
A: Vlahovic is in the final year of his contract, whereas David is a multi-year investment. And Jonathan is also versatile.
Q: More of a center forward or a second striker?
A: David is a No. 9, but also a 9.5, a 10, or a wide attacker. With us in Canada, he plays as a second striker or a No. 10 with a center forward nearby. And he scores just as many goals. When I coached Leeds, I wanted David with me in the Premier League. But now, coaching him for the national team, I`ve realized he`s even stronger than I imagined.
Q: After David, Juventus is reportedly considering Victor Osimhen. Are they compatible?
A: Of course. Osimhen is a center forward, David is more of a second striker. I don`t know if it will happen, but on paper, they would be a great partnership.
Q: Translated into goals?
A: Osimhen-David would be an attack capable of at least 50 goals.
Q: Does David have anything in common with Haaland, your former player at Salzburg?
A: Erling is about strength and power, Jonathan is intelligence and technique. But both are goal monsters. In terms of characteristics, David is more similar to Nkunku than Haaland or Sesko. However…
Q: However…?
A: In terms of absolute value, David is right after Haaland, and then Sesko.
Q: David is the first Canadian in Juve`s history…
A: And this is a source of pride for our national team. I grew up in the US watching Italian football and had a soft spot for Sacchi`s Milan, with Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta, Donadoni… Juventus is another top Italian club, and David has the same mentality as the Bianconeri: he is competitive and a winner.
Q: Who is your favorite player in Tudor`s team?
A: Kenan Yildiz is a great talent. And I also like Weston McKennie, whom I coached at Leeds. I don`t know Tudor personally, but I will come to see his training sessions in Turin.
Q: Who are your role models among Italian coaches?
A: I have studied and greatly admired Sacchi and Lippi, two world-class masters.
