Given the chance to fire back, to plant the Stars and Stripes defiantly on English soil and remind them that “soccer” is, by the way, their word—one that was used comfortably in the U.K. for decades—Jesse Marsch instead opted for humor and humility.
"I think there's probably a stigma,” he said Thursday when speaking about American coaches at the top tier of the global game. “I'm not sure Ted Lasso helped. I haven't watched the show, but I get it. I get it. People hate hearing the word ‘soccer.’ I’ve used the word ‘football’ since I was a professional football player.