(Bordeaux, France) “We have to be really aggressive with our concept of youth development [at Canada Soccer] and the kind of opportunity we offer them,” Jesse Marsch emphasizes.
Canada’s coach sits in front of La Presse in the lobby of the Bordeaux hotel where Canada was staying ahead of its match against France last weekend. He thus answered one of our questions about the young goalkeeper Grégoire Swiderski, whom he invited to his first camp as a training goalkeeper.
“We must accelerate these developments in order to create a larger pool of players, and a pool of players who have the potential to reach the highest level,” he adds. So you will see me giving opportunities to more and more young people. And give them real responsibilities. This is what is important for the country, and for our national team. »
It’s not Swiderski, at 18, who’s going to complain about this. Met a few minutes before Marsch on this other sunny Saturday afternoon in Bordeaux, the Franco-Canadian saw this reminder as “an immense source of pride”.
“It was a continuation of what I had with the U20s,” he said. I had performed well, I was very happy with myself, the feedback from the coaches was positive. »
In the U20s, he worked alongside Mauro Biello, whom he saw again last week. Biello is once again assistant to the coach, but he previously also had the role of coach of the U20s.
“He has great potential,” confirms Biello, weighing his words.
Enough to become Canada’s goalkeeper of the future?
“Look, he’s got what it takes. Now it will depend on him. »
Biello reminds that Swiderski will be at the June camp in preparation for the CONCACAF U20 Championship in July.
“If he starts to demonstrate his qualities, and even also at club level if he starts to break through and play a little more, yes, he has that potential to one day play with the first team. »
It is not insignificant that Swiderski was recalled for this camp with the Canadian senior team: he is a player trained at the Girondins de Bordeaux club since he was 12, and he is from this southern region -West of France.
“I live in France,” he explains to La Presse. My mother is French and my father is Canadian. He comes from Ottawa. I have dual nationality. I spent my youth traveling between France and Canada, so I am immersed in both cultures. »
With his club, he has been training with the first team – in the French second division – for two years, but plays his matches sometimes with the reserves (5th division), sometimes with the U19s, who play between the two levels.
This is a good time to point out that not everything is going well at the Girondins de Bordeaux at the moment. This historic French club suffered a sporting relegation to the second division in 2021, then almost got relegated to the third division due to financial problems a few weeks later. It barely escaped.
The new owner, Gérard Lopez, who bought the team that summer, was struggling in June 2024 to find the necessary funds to prove that he was solvent before the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG). A hole of 35 to 40 million euros had to be filled. Once again, relegation was in the cards.
Until the daily Sud-Ouest revealed on June 11 that Lopez had found an American partner to help him pass the DNCG exams later this month. And therefore, theoretically, to stay in Ligue 2.
This is certainly reassuring news for all parties involved, especially Swiderski.
The young goalkeeper had finished his tour with Canada when the group arrived in Bordeaux – Marsch said he wanted to give him a break before he joined the U20s. Don’t worry, he was still able to see the Blues’ match against the maple leaf on Sunday evening. Which way was his heart leaning?
” I am red ! », he confirms, smiling. “They give me confidence, it’s a pleasure to play for Canada. So there is no problem. »
He also assures that the experience was enriching.
Swiderski also spoke with the other French-speaking member of the goaltending corps: Maxime Crépeau.
“Max, he’s a great guy. He gave me a lot of advice. There are no taboos between us. We talk about life, about football, the relationship is very positive, healthy. »
Later the same day, a French journalist asked Jesse Marsch about Swiderski’s presence.
“We were all impressed by him,” replies the coach. When the team said goodbye to him […], we all had the impression that we were going to see him again quickly. »