Since being announced as the new head coach of the U.S. men’s national team last September, Mauricio Pochettino’s preparation for his first job on the international stage has been a whirlwind. Sporting director Matt Crocker has hinted that the Argentine will have a 10-week crash course to get up to speed with his player pool, but even that suggests the United States will face some challenges ahead of Pochettino’s first camp this October. was not expected. They face off against Panama and Mexico.
later reveal the list of the campsFeaturing many familiar faces from past rosters, Pochettino spoke about his struggles. Visa issues prevented him from traveling to the United States until the day after release, and he didn’t have a chance to talk to most of the players except Anthony Robinson, whom he ran into while having dinner in London. .
Pochettino’s failure to meet most of the pool should not be taken as a shortcoming. This is because the director, who is always meticulous, has a reason and plans to proceed during and after this camp.
“I didn’t want to call someone just because, ‘I called some guy.’ Of course, in the future we will have more contact with players who will be participating in this camp, as well as players we want to see or are thinking about. “There are possibilities for the future,” Pochettino said. “It’s not just the players in Europe, but also the players that are playing in other countries, like MLS. Players that have potential, we’re going to try to create those connections and relationships so they feel like we care about them. Hopefully, “You have to motivate them, look after them, follow them, and push them that opportunities might come their way.”
Compared to the end of Gregg Berhalter’s reign, when there wasn’t much experimentation with the player pool, this is music to any fan’s ears. There will be gaps in the players in the USMNT pool and with Pochettino’s excellent youth development record and his staff he will be hoping to be able to identify young players who can now be ready for the national team as they become more familiar with him. no see. swimming pool.
It’s not something he can do overnight, but once Pochettino becomes more familiar with American soccer, that’s when the excitement can really start to build. He knows this is a transition, so he won’t apply his entire tactical identity to the players right away.
“Being simple is the most important thing. Players shouldn’t create too many complications. When they arrive on their first day in Austin, they can’t believe that we’re going to be in a room talking for two or three hours. About things.” Pochettino said. “The most important thing is to establish some concepts that I think are principles and then plan to evolve them over time.”
Having watched the USMNT under Mikey Barras against Canada and New Zealand, Pochettino will have seen firsthand the dangers of overcomplicating the system when a team plays out from the back and struggles to withstand Canada’s pressure. Now that the stakes are higher and a match against Mexico is just around the corner, the USMNT will be judged on the results with Argentina in charge. Expectations are already growing and will continue to do so.
There are simple adjustments Pochettino can make that could make an impact out of the gate, especially with Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Robinson back in the squad. In terms of formations, he is also focusing on the two setups in which this team has thrived: 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3. A back three or dual striker system cannot be ruled out in the future, but it will require coaches to be flexible when it comes to putting their players in the best positions to succeed. A good coach can find one system that works and wins, and a good coach makes his system work for the current player pool. During Pochettino’s career, he has proven himself to be a great coach who can take teams beyond their expected potential, such as taking Tottenham to the Champions League final. These accolades, including domestic success at PSG, are why the prospect of him leading the USMNT is so exciting.
There will be challenges along the way and he already has ideas about what needs to change. When asked about Brandon Aronson, Pochettino said he likes the player’s versatility, but he has played in so many positions that he needs to find the one that suits him. He also mentioned that the player needs to play for his club, which could lead to a big change in the USMNT setup if he is unable to get consistent minutes.
This overhaul and guidance from a coach who has reached the highest level of the game is exactly what the USMNT needs. Only time will tell whether the players live up to the standard, but starting with tests against Panama and Mexico, they will be forced to play to their full potential.
