Since being announced as the new manager of the United States men’s national team in September, it has been a whirlwind for Mauricio Pochettino as he prepares for his first job in international management. Sporting director Matt Crocker said there would be a 10-week crash course for the Argentine to get up to speed with the player pool, but even he couldn’t have anticipated some of the bumps ahead of Pochettino’s first camp in October, where the United States will face Panama and Mexico.
After releasing his roster for that campfeaturing many familiar faces from previous squads, Pochettino spoke about some of his struggles. Visa issues prevented him from traveling to the United States until the day after release, and he also hasn’t had a chance to talk to most of the players outside of Antonee Robinson, whom he met by chance at a dinner in London. .
It should not be taken as a disadvantage that Pochettino has not met most of the group, as the ever-meticulous manager has a reason for that and a plan to move forward both during and after this camp.
“I didn’t want to call just to say, ‘I called some guy.’ Of course, from now on we will come into more contact with players. Not only with the players who are on the roster for this camp, but also with the players we would like to see or who we may be thinking about as a team for the future.” , Pochettino said. “Not only the players who are in Europe, also the players who play in another country like MLS. Players with potential, we are going to try to create these bonds and a relationship so that they feel that we will take care of them.” take care of them, follow them and express them. We have to motivate them that there is possible an opportunity arises when they perform well.”
Compared to the end of Gregg Berhalter’s reign, when there wasn’t much experimentation with the player pool, this is music to your ears if you’re a fan. Players in the USMNT pool will have a clean slate and with Pochettino’s great track record in youth development, along with his staff, he hopes to be able to identify young players who could now be ready for the national team as he becomes more familiar touches the pool.
It’s not something he’ll be able to do overnight, but as Pochettino becomes more embedded in American football, the excitement could really start to build. He knows that it is a transition and that is why he will not immediately impose his entire tactical identity on the players.
“It is very important to be simple, players should not create too many complications. The players cannot believe that when they arrive on their first day in Austin, we will sit in the room for two or three hours talking about tactics and other things,” Pochettino said. “Most importantly, we need to settle a few concepts that I think are principled, and then I plan to develop them over time.”
Having seen the USMNT led by Mikey Varas face Canada and New Zealand, Pochettino will have seen first-hand the dangers of overcomplicating the system when the team struggled to play at the back and handle the Canadian press resist. With the stakes higher and a date against Mexico looming, the USMNT will be judged on results, led by Argentina. Expectations are already higher and will continue to be so.
Particularly with Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Robinson back in the squad, there are simple adjustments Pochettino can make that will have an impact from the start. Even formation-wise, he focuses on a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 out of the gate, two formations in which this team has flourished. That doesn’t rule out a three-back or double-forward system in the future, but if a coach needs to put his players in the best position to succeed, he needs to be flexible. Good coaches can find one system to work from and win from, while great coaches make their systems work for their current player pool. Throughout Pochettino’s career, he has proven himself to be a great coach who can lift a group beyond their perceived potential, such as taking Tottenham to the Champions League final. These accolades, including domestic success with PSG, are why the prospect of him leading the USMNT is so exciting.
There will be bumps in the road and he already has ideas about things that need to change. When asked about Brendon Aaronson, Pochettino said he is a player whose versatility he likes, but he may have played in too many positions and so needs to find a player who works for him. He also said players will have to play for their clubs, which could mean big changes to the USMNT lineup if players can’t earn consistent time.
This shakeup and guidance from a coach who has reached the highest levels of the game are exactly what the USMNT needed. Only time will tell if the players meet the standard, but they will be pushed to reach their full potential, starting with tests against Panama and Mexico.