Mauricio Pochettino kicked off his reign as U.S. men’s national team coach by explaining during his introductory press conference in New York City, why such a reputed football manager would take on the challenge of the U.S. job. He pointed to the great potential of soccer in the U.S. and the thrill of stepping out of his comfort zone in taking the USMNT to a whole new level. The 52-year-old former Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea manager also expressed his excitement about surrounding circumstances, including his meetings with U.S. Soccer executives.
The nature of Pochettino’s decision to take on the U.S. job aligns with the ideology of the USMNT. Over the years, the U.S. team has been on an improvement journey that leaned on the idea of getting out of comfort zones for growth. This idea was recurrently discussed by former coach Gregg Berhalter and even dated back to Jurgen Klinsmann’s era. However, it pertains to more than just seeking challenges abroad and playing for Europe’s big clubs, but also to understanding how to take on appropriate challenges that stir growth. Also, Pochettino’s pursuit of personal growth by accepting the U.S. job was a remarkable moment during the press conference.
Pochettino’s charisma was palpable throughout the press conference. He expressed his happiness about working with the U.S. team, appreciated the honor of being the first Latin American coach who speaks Spanish to take up the job, and praised the winning mentality of the U.S. women’s team under coach Emma Hayes. He also conversed in English and Spanish during the press conference, which signaled an unprecedented opportunity for U.S. Soccer to connect with the vast and burgeoning Latino population in the U.S. Nonetheless, Pochettino understands that engaging fans, old and new, hinges on winning.
The idea of belief was a dominant theme during Pochettino’s introductory conference. He highlighted the importance of belief as a driving force in football, and explained how consequential it would be if the team can harness collective belief. Furthermore, he underscored that the USMNT will need to have a winning mindset, even considering winning the World Cup, if they are to achieve great things. The idea of fostering a winning mentality is also motivated by the need to reestablish confidence in the team, which was notably lacking in the September window following underwhelming performances at the Copa América, and in a loss to Canada and a draw with New Zealand.
Speaking on team strategy, Pochettino insisted on creating an exciting and attractive brand of football to win over fans. He also signaled his interest in prioritizing ball possession, and called for the players to adopt a proactive attitude. His approach to team management includes gathering insights from the players individually and then collectively. The process is expected to commence soon with likely interactions with players such as star winger Christian Pulisic. His first matches in charge are scheduled for next month, with friendlies in Austin, Texas and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Pochettino’s appointment, which took two months from recruitment to formal introduction, has set a new course for the team with less than two years until the World Cup. With a coach of Pochettino’s caliber at the helm, the USMNT has a seemingly uphill task but they now stand a chance to possibly exceed expectations in the tournament. Despite the anticipation and time taken to finalize his appointment, Pochettino is raring to get started on his new assignment.
