"And I think the first game, watching it, I was eager to get on the pitch. Second game, even more so, and obviously the third game.
I went to (Marsch) before the game. I asked him, 'Do you think you know I can get a couple minutes?'"
said Davies.
Marsch explained the medical reasoning behind keeping the star player on the bench during the opening matches despite his desire to play.
"For me to go to tell our best player, and the guy that I know is a huge piece of everything we do, that we have to wait was also painful, right?"
said Marsch.
The coach emphasized that the cautious approach was necessary to prevent long-term complications and ensure full fitness for the knockout rounds.
"But we've done this in the best interest of Alphonso and his career and his health.
And so you know it's nice now that we can have a plan that leads to him being back on the pitch," said Marsch.
Marsch previously mentioned he used the threat of Davies playing as a tactical element prior to the Switzerland game.
The head coach had referred to the recovery process as using the star talent as a "decoy" to disrupt opponents' preparations.
"You have to really now maintain them and make sure that you're hitting all the benchmarks before you let them really go and be free," said Marsch.
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