Doug McIntyre
Soccer Journalist
AUSTIN, Texas — All through Mauricio Pochettino’s first month or so in control of the U.S. males’s nationwide staff, he is talked repeatedly about what he sees as his most vital mandate.
No, not simply profitable, although Pochettino loved a triumphant debut on Saturday because the People snapped a four-game run with no victory by beating Panama 2-0 in Saturday’s pleasant right here.
“We’re right here,” the previous Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham supervisor mentioned once more afterward, “To assist the gamers.”
It is an vital distinction, and never mutually unique from the rationale he was employed: to make sure the People do not squander their once-in-a-lifetime alternative to seize the nation’s creativeness with a profitable 2026 World Cup on residence soil.
Pochettino did not drastically alter the People’ lineup for his first match. Six gamers who participated within the stunning Copa América group stage loss to this identical Panamanian staff in June began on Saturday. Six extra had been unavailable due to harm, together with midfielder Weston McKennie, who Pochettino mentioned could possibly be accessible to play a task in Tuesday’s contest in Mexico towards blood rivals El Tri.
“I did not really feel [there were] too, too many modifications” from earlier U.S. squads, Panama supervisor Thomas Christiansen mentioned. “He’ll want time to adapt his concepts to the staff.”
Pochettino has insisted since taking the job that the People have the expertise to make a deep run in 2026. However to succeed on the largest stage in sports activities two years from now, members of the USMNT should first develop an iron-clad perception in themselves. It is Pochettino’s job to instill that swagger in them — a course of that Saturday’s end result suggests has already begun.
Take the game-winning aim that Yunus Musah scored towards Los Canaleros early within the second half.
The 21-year-old midfielder’s expertise has been plain since he broke into the U.S. 4 years in the past. Musah went on to begin on the 2022 World Cup as an adolescent. However the AC Milan man has been out and in of the lineup for his membership this season, and Pochettino might sense some hesitation within the participant.
So, relatively than put Musah in his traditional spot within the middle of the sphere, Pochettino determined to deploy Musah on the suitable wing — the place he performed when he broke by with Spanish membership Valencia in 2020 — as a result of it could absolve him of sure duties and permit him to play extra freely.
It labored like a allure.
“I feel that was an excellent choice,” Pochettino mentioned. “It is incredible for him, incredible for the staff, and now possibly [he will] begin to carry out and behave a unique manner, stuffed with confidence.”
“It is extra of a place the place you are presupposed to be that man that takes the dangers, you are presupposed to be that man that takes on a person and creates [scoring] probabilities,” Musah mentioned of his traditional central midfield function. “So finally, when the coach tells you to play free, then it provides you much more of an opportunity to do these issues.”
It is certainly one of many refined tweaks Pochettino made to the USMNT throughout his maiden coaching camp.
“Completely different concepts, completely different techniques, completely different formation, completely different tradition, but additionally the identical tradition,” mentioned keeper Matt Turner, who obtained an analogous vote of confidence from the coach and rewarded it handsomely by making two point-blank second half photographs to protect the shutout.
“We have now a whole lot of guys which have been round for some time now,” Turner mentioned. “It is guys which have, you realize, been there earlier than.”
In contrast to on the membership degree, worldwide coaches do not have the luxurious of filling holes twice a 12 months through the switch market. The personnel is mainly the identical for Pochettino because it was below predecessor Gregg Berhalter. However a part of the rationale Pochettino was recruited was his monitor file of creating gamers and groups.
These expertise had been on full show within the new coach’s first recreation. That is to not say the victory was secondary.
“It has been some time since we have gained a recreation and had a clear sheet, so, yeah, it is good to set off this period with with a win,” Turner mentioned. “Successful is one thing that you simply study.
“The gaps between nationwide groups is getting smaller and smaller,” Turner continued. “Extra gamers are enjoying at greater ranges everywhere in the world. So the margins for profitable video games in tournaments, simply generally, is slimmer. So we have to handle all of the little particulars.”
One match into Pochettino’s tenure, up to now so good.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities. A former workers author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities, he has coated U.S. males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.
Get extra from United States Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
