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On Saturday we got our first look at the United States men’s national team under Mauricio Pochettino in a 2-0 win over Panama. It’s a result that was never in doubt, with Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi finding the back of the net, and while Panama had a few chances, Matt Turner was there when needed and Pochettino’s USMNT controlled the game with defenders pressing the came and pushed the ball. pace.
You wouldn’t know this was the same USMNT that had one win in seven games coming into play, or the one that couldn’t play through the Canadian Press, where Pochettino’s fingerprints are starting to appear. Even formation-wise, although they were set up in a standard 4-3-3, it was more of a 3-4-3 when they entered the pitch, allowing Musah to push the pace from wide areas. Changes had to happen without the pace of Tim Weah and at least in game one, Pochettino pressed all the right buttons.
While the entire team’s performance will need to be strong to secure a shutout win, here are the players who may have improved their performances after a strong start under Pochettino:
Right back: Joe Scally
No player felt more underutilized during the Gregg Berhalter era than Joe Scally. From being a solid right-back in the Bundesliga to competing for the national team was something that wasn’t right, but under Pochettino that could change. Scally was used more as a third centre-back, where he could really get on the ball and help promote possession, and it worked to great effect. The USMNT won the possession battle and also allowed only three shots on goal. More of that, please.
Forward: Ricardo Pepi
Ricardo Pepi may have missed out on the 2022 World Cup squad, but at this rate he won’t be missing from the 2026 squad. The USMNT attackers spent most of the match isolated, but Pepi came off the bench and capitalized on his opportunities optimally by hitting the back of the net. Pepi has consistently managed to change games for the USMNT when he comes off the bench, which is such a valuable skill. He wants to become the starting player, but there is now a clear role for him in this team and he is quite good at it.
Midfielder: Yunus Musah
Pochettino attaches great importance to flexibility in a formation and that is something that Musah has quite a lot of. Musah could already position himself in midfield where he was needed, was essentially a right winger against Panama and could also contribute a goal. While he hopefully won’t be needed in that position very often, it’s good to know that Musah can do something in an emergency if Pochettino wants to suffocate teams. Musah also showed no signs of rust despite his inconsistent playing time for Milan, which will ensure he continues to get opportunities.
Midfielder: Gianluca Busio
Shocker, it’s another member of the midfield that makes this list, but when you control the game for so long you have to win the midfield battle to do it. Gianluca Busio played a big role in retaining possession. After Christian Pulisic, Busio also created the team’s second-most chances, with two playing in different roles. With only three steps misplaced, it was a great day for the Venezia man.
Midfielder: Aidan Morris
This could easily be Aidan Morris’ year. He has become central to Middlesbrough’s midfield and is pushing that experience into the center of the park for the USMNT. Morris definitely took the second-most touches overall of any member of the team. Morris also made three tackles and posed a threat to Panama attacks. This is a team that has been missing an enforcer since Tyler Adams was out due to injuries, but they may have found one. Morris’ performance was so good that from now on he should be a starting midfielder in the USMNT lineup for the foreseeable future. He has been committed to taking on every challenge so far in his career and is excelling in his latest challenge to become a regular under Pochettino.