After his critical of the U.S. Soccer Federation in the pastCanadian national team head coach Jesse Marsch is looking forward to Mauricio Pochettino possibly leading the US men’s national team. Marsch was hired by the Canadian national team this year, leading them to a fourth-place finish at the Copa America. Having played against Mauricio Pochettino in the past, the American has a lot of respect for him as the US federation is reportedly closing in on the Argentina boss.
“I think Pochettino is a good coach. One of his best things is that he’s quite malleable,” Marsch said on the latest episode of Call It What You Want, a CBS Sports Golazo Network podcast he previously co-hosted. “He is really pragmatic and tries to get the best out of his teams. He’s not married to one system – you can argue that’s good and bad – but I think his focus will be on how to get the best out of his teams. best players he had to do at PSG, he had to do at Tottenham, he had to do at Chelsea and that’s typically one of the things he’s done well. He has gotten really good performances out of his best players and that has helped him. “It is not yet known how it will all turn out, but I am optimistic that he can have a positive impact on the team and on the sport in the country.”
A coach with Pochettino’s qualities will have the opportunity to increase the status of the USMNT. The Argentinian has managed to improve players at clubs and also manage stars, a mix that will be needed in international management. Expectations for a 2026 World Cup on home soil will be high, but there is no reason why Pochettino cannot deliver. The flexibility that Marsch praised is an area that former coach Gregg Berhalter has lacked in the past, so it will be exciting to see how things can change under Pochettino.
Marsch also spoke about how the players were ready for change because they needed a challenge that Berhalter did not provide during his second spell in charge when he crashed out of the Copa America.
“This sport and this world you play in should be about constantly being challenged to be your best. Period. Right? I don’t care who the coach is and, and there should be no comfort,” Marsch said. “There should always be a drive to get better. And yes, it’s fun to be in teams, right? You want the process of growth and improvement to be fun, but it has to be about demands, right? And this life It should never be about complacency, right? If you want to be a good professional coach, a good professional player or a good professional team, it has to be about the drive and the obsession to do your best, and the only way. to do that is to do that. To be constantly challenged and pushed above your head. To be asked to do more, to have higher standards and higher demands, right?
These demands are an area where Pochettino will help if he takes over. He is a manager who expects the best from his players every week and will not hesitate to drop anyone if they do not adhere to his instructions. During the Copa America it felt like the members of the USMNT were too comfortable in their roles, the team lacked cohesion, and that could be coming to an end as Pochettino continues to prove that he can make players play in his style and compete can surpass. their potential.