U.S. Men`s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has come to the defense of his player choices and the team`s recent performance following a 2-0 defeat to South Korea on Saturday. This loss marked his seventh in just 17 games since taking the helm less than a year ago.
Despite the scoreline, Pochettino claimed the USMNT was “better than South Korea” in the friendly, citing their 17-5 advantage in shots. However, the team once again appeared disconnected, sparking concerns about squad chemistry with only nine months and approximately ten friendly matches remaining before the World Cup.
Much of the post-match scrutiny focused on the defense, where Tristan Blackmon`s debut failed to impress, while key player Chris Richards remained on the bench. Pochettino initially explained that Richards arrived at camp with a minor “issue” limiting him to a substitute appearance. On Monday, however, he accused critics of lacking common sense in their remarks.
“The important thing is to apply common sense. If people sometimes want to talk about bullshit, they can talk about bullshit,” he stated in his pre-match comments before a friendly against Japan. “It`s a friendly game and we take a risk, and perhaps create a big problem because we might want to play him.”
Pochettino also used Malik Tillman, a breakout star from the Concacaf Gold Cup who joined Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, as an illustrative example. Tillman sustained a preseason injury that sidelined him for Leverkusen`s opening Bundesliga match, though he played 61 minutes the following week, just before the international break.
“It`s a risk to call him up, and I think we all agree he`s a good player for us, of course. But what`s the benefit – to bring him here and potentially set him back because he`s not ready, or rather to give him two weeks to work well with his team, start fresh, and then build his condition through regular play?” Pochettino questioned. “Then, in October, if he`s doing well, you can call him. But if you call him and take a risk, and there`s a setback and he gets injured, potentially missing one, two, or three months of play, that`s a significant risk for the World Cup.”
Fitness concerns, he explained, were to be anticipated this month, as the international break falls only two or three weeks into the European season.
“It`s always challenging because players are moving, changing clubs; some are starting to play, others aren`t; some come from no preseason, others with a short one,” he remarked. “I believe that`s the most difficult aspect. The September camp is consistently the hardest because players sometimes haven`t settled at their clubs.”
The head coach further argued that now is the opportune moment to provide chances to inexperienced players like Blackmon.
“We also need to understand that we require a fairly broad roster and players we need to know and give opportunities to play,” he said, “because if we only work with a few players, but then some come with injuries and cannot play or be on the roster for the World Cup, it`s not the time for trials or to provide experience. That`s why you shouldn`t be surprised.”
Pochettino also maintained that his efforts to expand the player pool would foster a vital competitive environment for everyone involved leading up to the World Cup.
“Of course, I want to win, but we also need to consider the process and give players a chance to perform, putting the coaching staff in a very challenging situation,” he explained, “because Tillman needs to know there`s another player behind him pushing, right?”
Pochettino also conveyed a more positive outlook on the USMNT`s performance against South Korea after a few days of reflection, asserting that the team is on the correct trajectory. He views the March losses in the Concacaf Nations League Finals as a crucial opportunity to recalibrate.
“I think it was a big wake-up call after March,” Pochettino stated. “Everything that happened helped a bit to realize that the most important thing is the national team, it`s the federation, and this is more important than any single name. … We have a plan. We are not worried. We are not worried about anything. We stick with the plan. We are with the players. We are a very, very strong group now, people working in the federation, everyone.”
Pochettino concluded by declaring that current concerns are solely external, and that overly harsh criticism impedes the players` progress.
“When people speak, they need to consider that there can always be another way to assess and analyze things. It`s not just about being negative… Being critical is one thing, because I appreciate criticism when you say what`s right, but when it`s criticism for criticism`s sake, I believe it`s not harming me. You are harming your country and harming your players, whom, in the end, we all need to stand behind to provide the best platform to perform.”
