Mauricio Pochettino, the new head coach of the United States men’s national team, is not one to shy away from bold statements. In his first press conference, he declared that his players must “believe” they have what it takes to win the World Cup. Some may view this as typical manager bravado, but for Pochettino, it is a mindset he wants to instill in his team from day one.
After months of negotiations, wine and steak dinners, and a lucrative contract, Pochettino knows he has a tough task ahead of him. He must not only improve the quality of the team in a short amount of time but also change their mentality. He refuses to make excuses or allow his players to make them either.
“We have time and we need to really believe in big things. Believe that we can win not only a game, we can win the World Cup,” Pochettino stated. “If not, it is going to be very difficult. We want players that show up, day one at the training camp, and think big. That is the only way to create this philosophy or this idea to perform and put your talent in the service of the team. That is going to be our massive challenge.”
The players, on the other hand, have a more tempered view of what success looks like. Midfielder Tyler Adams mentioned that reaching the quarter-finals of a tournament and winning a knockout game in a pressured situation would be signs of progress. However, the reality is that the team still has a long way to go.
The U.S. was eliminated in the group stages of the Copa America, failing to advance past Uruguay in a must-win match. Individual errors and a lack of quality ultimately proved to be their downfall. Pochettino knows this and is determined to push his players to aim higher and not settle for mediocrity.
He wants his team to stop hiding behind excuses and embrace the challenge ahead. With his winning mentality and the talent he has at his disposal, Pochettino is setting the bar high for the United States men’s national team. Only time will tell if they can rise to the occasion and achieve the lofty goals he has set for them.
