US men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said American players can compete with the likes of Spain and Argentina in terms of talent, but they need to be “a little more arrogant” about their mindset when playing the game.
“There is still a gap between Argentina and Spain but we are reducing it every day. I think there is a question of faith and we are becoming a little more arrogant in our ability to believe we can do well,” Pochettino said. “I have the qualifications to compete,” he said.
“I think that’s where we are and I think we’ll get there by 2026.”
Since joining the U.S. soccer team in September 2024, Pochettino has emphasized the need for stronger mental strength ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The United States will not participate in any qualifiers as hosts of the 2026 tournament, but Pochettino is demanding his players be aggressive in every match.
“Our main goal is to evolve and develop all the ways to keep the ball in place and keep the ball in place and, of course, to be aggressive and score goals, because at the end of the day sports are about scoring and scoring goals. “We don’t give in,” Pochettino said.
“At this moment, we have to react, we have to be explosive, we have to be powerful, we have to be capable, we have to be focused, focused, aggressive, and the organization needs to recover, as quickly as possible. Why do we ask that?
“I think if you want to have a team that is very balanced in possession and out, you have to be very demanding of both sides and of course we are very demanding. Yes, I think we are a combination of everything. The players are going to put on the best show possible. “We are providing guidance to our staff so that they can do so.”
The new coach later emphasized that his players could emulate the way the Argentines play the game of football in order to improve. He insisted that while there was no shortage of talent, a different approach could bridge the gap to the best teams in the world.
“It’s the way the Argentine players compete, the way they think. If you lose the ball, you cry, if you lose the game, you cry, you spend a week in your room. It’s a way to defend your badge and your flag. I think it’s to protect your identity and your culture. “He said.
“Because when you play for the national team and you hear the national anthem, you have to feel something on your skin, inside yourself. If we can feel that, then we have quality and competence. We have professionalism and professional discipline, so we have a very competitive team. I think we can find it or we can build it.”
Players at the USMNT’s January camp are starting to feel the effects of Pochettino’s coaching style after just 10 days, with Jack Steffen defining the player as ‘demanding’ and ‘intense’.
“Pochettino, he is very demanding and intense on the field. He is someone you can go and ask questions and talk to. And he manages the players well,” Steffen said in the mixed zone.
“It was intense, but I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it. You have to stay focused. It’s going to be hard work. When you’re done training, do whatever you want and enjoy it.”
The USMNT is preparing to face Venezuela on Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the first of two friendlies during the January transfer window. The team will then travel to Orlando to face Miguel Herrera’s Costa Rica, giving Pochettino a chance to vet every player on the roster.
