When Mauricio Pochettino was announced as the next manager of the United States, some people took notice.
After being named the new manager of the US national team, Mauricio Pochettino challenged his players to think they can win the next World Cup. After being chosen to succeed Gregg Berhalter, the former Chelsea manager fielded questions during his first press conference on Friday.
With a two-year deal in hand, Pochettino will guide the USA into a home World Cup in 2026. Although they will most likely be content to simply go past the group stages, Pochettino wants his players to have the highest standards for themselves.
“Everyone thinks that there is no time to prepare,” he stated. “I think there is enough time; I’m on the other side. I don’t want to give players a cause to believe there isn’t enough time and to perform poorly.
“We’ve got time. We have to have faith in our ability to win—not just a match, but the World Cup. On the first day, we want the guys to come in with great ideas.”
It would surely be one of the biggest upsets in football history if the United States of America were to pull off the impossible and win the next World Cup. They were eliminated in the group rounds of this year’s Copa America and are currently placed 16th by FIFA, behind teams like Colombia, Morocco, and Switzerland.
Cindy Parlow Cone, president of US Soccer, commended Pochettino earlier in the press conference for remembering to refer to football as soccer. The alternate name of the sport, which is meant to prevent confusion with American football, did not need to be reiterated to him.
In order to establish ties with players and their clubs, Pochettino clarified that he would be spending a significant amount of time in Europe even if he was planning to live in the USA.
“The idea is to live here in the United States but we’ll be in between Europe and the United States,” he stated. “I must establish connections with the team, but for the time being, I must be present with the global coaching staff.
“The plan is to build relationships with the clubs and show players that we support them.”
When asked how he would go about taking on his new position, Pochettino promised to raise the team’s level of fitness and said they would try to play as much as they can up front.
“The most important thing is to see the potential in the players which we have,” he stated. “We must move, sprint, have choices, and form advantageous angles. Our goal is to establish the finest medium for their self-expression.”
