Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino's six-word verdict on USA unveiling speaks volumes
Gary Neville recently sat down with Mauricio Pochettino, the newly appointed coach of the United States Men's National Team, for a revealing chat on his new podcast 'It's Called Soccer', co-hosted by Jamie Carragher.
During their conversation, Pochettino opened up about the warm reception he received at his unveiling. He noted a stark contrast to his previous roles, having left club football behind after most recently managing Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
And Pochettino says he 'feels a very warm welcome', months after his shock departure from Chelsea. "I think it was really positive, it was so nice. I feel a very warm welcome," Pochettino expressed. "Yes, I think [the press conference] was completely different than at my last few jobs."
Before taking over the reins of the United States, the 51-year-old Pochettino had a colourful career, managing teams like Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, PSG, and Chelsea. His last stint was at Stamford Bridge in the 2023/24 season, where he led a young yet costly squad to finish strong with five consecutive league victories, securing sixth place.
Pochettino's tenure at Tottenham from 2014 to 2019 was marked by significant milestones, including steering the team to its highest Premier League points total and its first Champions League final appearance. Taking the helm of the USA, marks Pochettino's debut into national team management, introducing unique challenges such as a different schedule, no transfer activities, limited training opportunities, and the intense summer heat of America.
"It's like your first day in the school," he told Neville. "Because we [have] never worked in the national team, I think it's going to be the most difficult. You accept you are going to be with the players a few days and then (wipes hands)."
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Neville was impressed by Pochettino's bold approach to the game and wondered how he would adapt this to his new role with the United States. "It will be a challenge in a tactical point of view, because we need to adapt and be flexible with the characteristics we [have]," Pochettino explained.
"We are going to be protagonists and when we don't have the ball we are going to press so high. And the effort is going to need to be there."
The Argentinian also expressed his contentment about having ample time to prepare for the World Cup, which the United States will host in 2026. Carragher meanwhile, felt that Pochettino's move was an ideal match.
"I thought it was a perfect fit for both," he observed. "It might be one of those [new jobs] where you think, 'I kind of want to come a little bit out of the fire' a little bit.
"I only see him doing two years, to be totally honest. If those two years culminate in World Cup progress, most American fans will be satisfied."