Mauricio Pochettino was officially introduced as the new U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach during a press conference today in New York. The new USMNT manager is preparing to take the field for the first time on Oct. 12 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tex. for a match against Panama [TICKETS].
Take a look below to see what was said during Pochettino’s official introduction as the new USMNT coach:
Steve Goff: I imagine you watched the matches the other day and what was your opinion about them and what needs to happen going forward now as you build towards the World Cup?
Mauricio Pochettino: Of course, we were watching the games, and it's difficult to judge, because I think we cannot be unfair in the way that we are going to judge. Circumstances are so special after the Copa America. [The] situation wasn't really good for the players to manage in the last two games, but the most important thing is to see the potential that we have. They’re very good players. I think to send the message to everyone, not only the players that were involved in the last few games, not only the players that play in Europe, but the players that play here in the USA and in MLS, if not every single player that is around the world, we are going to try to pay attention and from now on they have the door open. It's only about performing and trying to show that they are capable of joining the national team. And that is one of our first ideas that we want to translate to our players. They need to understand that if they perform, we are going to be there watching.
Doug McIntyre: Welcome to the United States first of all. Your teams in the past have been marked by their high fitness levels, their bravery, their mentality, some things that maybe have been lacking with the current squad. You're not with the team every day, the way you would be with a club team. How do you instill some of those values, those things, when you don't see your players on a day-to-day basis?
MP: Yes, it's true that there's some characteristics that you are telling me now and it's true that you can, when you watch games and different clubs. But I think the most important thing is to set an idea that can fit for everyone, an idea that the players want to buy into. Not only the players but the staff, and not only my closest staff, but the staff that is at the Federation that we need to now know and try to listen and, of course, to share with them all the ideas, and create our own ideas altogether. But they seem in terms of way to play as you know is we need to see the players and see all their characteristics. But I think we are very flexible. We are a coaching staff that the first thing is we love the aesthetic in football. And for us it's really important. And we want to play a good football, exciting football. We are in the USA, you know. I think to convince our fans that aesthetic is really important. We want to play nice football, good football, exciting football, attacking football. And then, of course, if we want to have the possession, because we as a coaching staff, our philosophy is to have the ball. We need to run, we need to move. We need to give options, good angles, you know, to your teammates. But then also the opening is to play. And the opening we want the best one. Win the ball. But when we don't have the ball, we need to run, we need to be aggressive, we need to be competitive, and all of that that we need to, I think, to translate to create this platform that when they come, you know, when the players arrive to the national team, they need to know exactly what we need to do, how we need to compete, how we need to behave like a team, and the potential is there, the talent is there, it's only to create the best platform for them to express themselves.
Paul Tenorio: Hi. Mauricio. Paul Tenorio from The Athletic. Christian Pulisic and a few other players spoke the other night about how the culture around the team needs to change. The motivation needs to come back, the competence, how that's something you've known, been known to do, to create the culture around the group at all of your stops. How can you change and improve the culture of this group?
MP: I think we need to define what culture means. To build something – what’s the philosophy? It's difficult to describe in words, you know, culture. I think in that case that you mentioned, Christian was really frustrated after the game, and it's normal in that way to show that the frustration, you know, it was disappointing about the result and the performance. But I think what I want to tell you is the culture in the USA is there in all the sports, you know; USA has great athletes in all sports. It's a winning culture, winning mentality. I think only in soccer we need to be inspired by many, many support that we have here. But I think for me, one of the most important things that we need to be inspired by is the women’s team. We have Emma, who for me, is the best coach. I want to say, Hello to Emma. I don't know where you are, if you are here or not, but you know now we have Emma, who is the best coach in the world, and the women’s team historically won everything, like Cindy, and I think we need to match you. And for me, I remember when I started my pro license, many years ago, nearly 20 years ago, I started, and my practices in Espanyol de Barcelona women’s team during six months that, by the way, I pay a lot of dinners. You know, unbelievable. It was so expensive for me to practice in Espanyol de Barcelona with the women’s team. And yes, for me, it's so close to us. I think that is going to be our inspiration. That is the objective to match, you know, your results, but not only your results, but in the way that you create the philosophy to defend the badge and the country, the culture. And I think is it's about creating something special, that is the most important thing. We are here because we want to win. We are winners. We are successful, very successful coaching staff that sometimes maybe didn’t win, others we won. But I think the most important is to create something special. You know, to feel something when you arrive to the national team and not because the players come and not just because you get called in and we are going to play, no. We are going to compete and to compete is completely different than to play, and it's too many responsibilities from the players. And of course, our responsibility to create, you know, the platform for them, you know, to perform, but that is the most important -- we have many examples next to us that we need to follow and give our best.
Jeff Carlisle: Jeff Carlisle with espn.com. Welcome Mauricio. There are fewer than 10 international windows left between now and the World Cup. In what ways do you anticipate having to modify your methods, given that you're not going to have nearly as much time in front of the position as you would in a club situation?
MP: Yes, look, I think everyone thinks that there’s no time to prepare and to arrive, in our condition, to the World Cup. What I want to tell you that I am in the opposite side. I believe that there’s enough time. I don't want to create an excuse for the player to say, ‘well, yeah, but now we don't have time to buy into the new ideas, the new philosophy.’ No, football is like this – it's to touch the right buttons and start to perform. And of course, we are talking about soccer, no? And I think the players are so intelligent and so talented, and they can, I think, play in a different way. And for sure, I think we have time. We have time, and we need to really believe and think of big things. We need to believe that we can win, that we can win all [of the] games. We can win the World Cup. Because, if not, this is going to be so difficult, surely. And we want players that arrive on day one in the training camp and thinking big, and that is the only way to create, you know, this philosophy or this idea all together, to perform and to really, you know, to put your talent on the service of the team. That is going to be our massive challenge. And then, of course, every time that we will have the possibility to be with them, we are going to be, you know, very clinical, and try to translate all the information. At the same time, you know, players – it's difficult to be concentrated, focused and more in this time, but I think we need to be clever enough in the way that we are going to approach and to try to get the best from them.
Ron Blum: Going through the player pool, the goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, attackers, what do you see as the strengths and what do you see as the weaknesses? And do you think, looking from afar this is the best generation of American players to work with?
MP: I don't see weakness because I don't like to talk about weakness. If I we are seeing some weaknesses we are never going to explain it, even to them. You know, we are always positive. I think we have very talented players. I think, of course, the confidence was a little bit low, you know, after the Copa America, but I think we are going to work into recovery. We have very good professionals, not only, you know, in in tactics or in physical condition, but in psychology, that we are going to work, you know, and to create that the right pattern to follow to recover the confidence and start to perform together. But of course, I think it's a very good generation of players, because in football it's a collective sport. We understand that, but we need to show that we play like a collective on the pitch. And of course, we need to work on that.
Henry Bushnell: Henry Bushnell from Yahoo Sports, welcome bienvenido. You've spoken about the limited time that you will have with the players. How do you plan to spend your time in between international windows when you don't have the players around you? Will you be over in Europe, trying to connect with them, watching games a lot? Will you be here, working on the program, working with U.S. Soccer on things? How do you plan to spend that time?
MP: Yes, I think the idea is to live here in the USA, that is the idea. But of course, for different reasons, we are going to be between, you know, Europe and the USA. Now, I think we need to create the links with all the potential players for the national team. I think now requires to be there with the players, with the staff, with the coaching staff, you know, working around the world, not only here in MLS, but I think, yes, that is the plan, to try to build a very good relationship with all the clubs. Clubs need to feel our support. Players need to feel that we care for them. It is not about ‘okay after one month, you go and then you’re back, but we don't know anything and we don't have a relationship.’ I think it's important to create that the relationship that the player needs to feel that you care. When the players feel that you care, I think you can get the best from them.
Jake Fenner: Jake Fenner, with the Daily Mail. You were linked with a number of other opportunities, both at the club level and at the international level. What is it about this project and this team that attracted you to it, and why did you decide that now was the good time to jump into international football?
MP: First of all, because of these people that are here next to me. I think for me, it's really important as a human being. And then because of the challenge and the potential, I think too many good things that made us think very seriously about the Federation. I think it’s so exciting to be here. I think maybe the biggest challenge that we are going to have, I think we had another challenge, but this one is amazing. And then to help to evolve soccer, you know, I think to be able to be part of that created in us the motivation, you know, to accept that challenge.
Roberto Abramovic: Hola Mauricio, Roberto Abramovic. Ojalá no te moleste que te haga una pregunta Español. Que fue el reto que te hizo aceptar esta position y que va definir el éxito para ti con la selección de Estados Unidos?
MP: Bueno el reto lo traté de explicar ahora, yo creo que somos un cuerpo técnico que mira mucho la parte humana. Cuando Matt, que ya lo conozco desde hace años y lógicamente JT y Cindy, hemos hablado en estos casi dos meses que llevamos de relación, hay algo que nos ha llamado. Hemos sentido esa linda emoción de poder trabajar juntos y después – porque hay un potencial grandísimo aquí en USA. Y el challenge de llevar al equipo masculino a un nivel diferente que quizás se han acercado en su momento en años atrás, yo creo que es un desafío que nos saca de nuestra zona de confort. Para nosotros es más fácil escoger cosas que ya conocemos y que ya tenemos una visión e idea. Pero acá es entrar a lo que uno no conoce y sacarte de tu zona de confort para desafiarte a ti mismo. Un desafío con nosotros mismos de volver a refrescarnos en un soccer que para nosotros siempre fue atractivo ya hora nos da la oportunidad de estar aquí.
Daniel Nohra: Mauricio o la por acá. Dani Nohra de Televisa Univisión. En el pasado reciente, el lema de este proyecto era cambiar la manera la que mundo ve el futbol de los Estados Unidos. Como crees tú que lo ve, y me gustaría saber si tú tienes un lema que te gustaría acudir.
MP: No, yo sigo el lema Una Nación. Un Equipo... Yo creo que la evolución del futbol aquí es obvia. Nosotros hemos tenido la oportunidad con varios equipos de venir a jugar partidos de verano y vemos y palpamos como crece la afición y como los clubes están en pleno desarrollo, y es excitante ver como rápidamente esa evolución está existiendo. Yo creo que, con la visión de la federación y la MLS, es una conjunción importante del desarrollo del futbol aquí que es muy rápida. La aportación de jugadores importantes que han llegado aquí a la liga hace que ese desarrollo sea muy bueno y creo que la llegada de Leo Messi ha dado un cimbronazo importante en cómo el mundo percibe a Estados Unidos ahora y como la gente descubre el futbol aquí. El talento existe y hay 350 millones de personas que le gusta el futbol y que cada vez se siente más y eso ayuda a que la visión externa mire con ojos diferentes a Estados Unidos, más la organización de la copa del mundo en 2026 ayuda que seamos hoy en día el centro del mundo y el foco está aquí en Estados Unidos.
Copán Alvarez, Telemundo: Es una gran ilusión para el público hispano. Es la primera vez que este equipo va a tener un técnico latinoamericano. ¿Como manejas ese momento y que sientes de tener este honor?
¿Y otra pregunta, que tiene de especial hoy por hoy el técnico argentino?
MP: Bueno lo tomo como una responsabilidad grande y espero que esos 70 millones de latinos vengan a apoyar la selección y que sea un punto de conexión con el equipo nacional. Necesitamos el apoyo de todos nuestros fans, no solo latinos si no de América, de USA. Creo que todos los campos deben estar llenos cuando juega la selección y los fans deben pelearse por una entrada para poder asistir a un evento donde van a sonreír, a disfrutar y pasarla bien y disfrutar, y por encima ver a su equipo ganar. Es importante que eso suceda de aquí al mundial porque hay una oportunidad de hacer algo importante.
Y después yo creo que el técnico argentino tiene un valor por su carácter y pasión. El futbol es un contexto de emociones y quien mejor que un argentino para trasladar esa emoción que es el futbol, el soccer.
Ryan Tolmich: Ryan Tolmich from GOAL, welcome and congratulations Mauricio. Obviously, it took a lot of time and effort to get you onto this stage, and I'm sure the people sitting next to you have had a long and stressful month of getting this process together. For you, just what was this month like? You know from those reports, it seemed like you were eager to do this, and you've been determined the whole way, and have had your mind set on doing this. So what has this process been like for you, and how have you used that time to prepare?
MP: To be honest, was tough. Was a really tough process, always, you know, difficult, you know. But the most important thing was that, from the day one, I think, we wanted to show him, you know, this, this guy, the Federation, and that was always, we were really open, and only we were thinking that is going to be possible. You know that the team were always, we were positive during the whole process.It was tough, because it's true. When you start some conversations and some deal you want to be quick, you know to finish because you need stability, you need to know what you are going to do tomorrow. But I think for different reason, you know, we spend more time, but I think on them, we are here, and then we are seeing, I am happy. Hope you are happy too. No, I think we arrive on a very good terms, and we finish, you know, the deal in a very good way.
Leander Schaerlaeckens: Hi Mauricio. Down here. Hi Leander Schaerlaeckens, The Ringer, and I'm writing a book about the National Team. When you spoke to Emma about working for U.S. Soccer, what did you ask her and what did she tell you?
MP: No, I didn’t need to ask and she explained everything. She's amazing. She's amazing. For me, it's an unbelievable, you know, she has an unbelievable character. Before, to be together in Chelsea, we already had a relationship. And then in Chelsea, we shared the training ground and everything. And I think, yes, I think Emma is, you know, is so excited to be here with you all. Amazing coach. Now she explained a few, few things that I needed to know, and because she's clever, you know, it's like if you say to me what they are going to explain to Emma, I don't need to explain too much, because she's so clever and so intelligent person. And I hope that she's in the same thinking the same way to me now. But I think always, know, the conversation that we have is always talking about how we can improve, how we can add to help, you know, soccer, that is the most important thing. Working for the Federation altogether, I think with Matt, JT and Cindy is, I don't know, is to come here is not only to spend time and say, ‘oh, enjoy nice place to be.’ No, it’s to work to try, you know, to help.
Pardeep Cattry: Hi Mauricio, Pardeep Cattry, CBS Sports. You were talking a lot about how you want to win, but when you finally get the group together next month, what will be your first priorities upon meeting them and working with them?
MP: I will tell you after I see the players, because the priority always is about to get a feel for the player. Of course, we have a plan, but the most important is to feel how they are, how they feel together. First of all, what always we love is to talk in an individual way, because it's really important to talk along with them, feel how they are. They can express themselves, how they see the things. It's really important after collective because it's important. But I think be open to analyze, and that is going to be the first, you know, time that we are going to be together is to try to know them and for them to have the possibility to know us, that this important thing also is in both ways.
Jonathan Tannenwald: Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer. You’ve spoken about wanting to manage a National Team someday, maybe wanting to work in the United States someday. When the call came, the opportunity, to work in this country, for you as an Argentine even though you’ve been in Europe for many years, what does it mean to have the opportunity to work in the United States, being the United States and what is represents.
JT and Matt, Mauricio spoke about the time, the negotiations. The perspective from the two of you on all of the pieces it took, like all of the fundraising and stuff like that, and what was it like for you two?
Matt Crocker: Yeah, I mean, I had the easy bit of it was to identify the best coach that can take the program forward. Once I did that, you know, obviously I've got some relationships with Chelsea, some of the sporting directors there, Paul and Lawrence, and you know, I was able to leverage that they were, they were really helpful and supportive. But we always knew it was going to be a very, very complex process. So I'll probably hand the second part of that over to JT, because he was the one that really had to, had to try and bring, bring all of this together from a logistics and a contractual perspective.
JT Batson: Well, sure. So I think you know at the outset, Matt had outlined a process to be very intentional about making sure we got the right person and that we spent a lot of time together to make sure that everyone knew what everyone was signing up for. And so I think some of that time was, and to Mauricio’s point, when the first press reports came out about this, we were still in that phase of making sure that, you know, we all are excited about this, and we all are setting ourselves up for success. And we wanted to be collectively thorough. And, you know, so we spent a lot of time together in Barcelona this summer, and so that I think that was very intentional, to be thorough. And then, you know, to Matt's point, you know, Chelsea could not have been more, you know, positive and constructive through this, obviously, as you all know, we were running up against the end of the transfer window, which, of course, has a very hard deadline, and everyone had to prioritize that. And it turns out, as I've learned after the transfer window, all the people that work on that go on vacation, and so not exactly the most helpful for speed, but certainly give Chelsea a lot of credit for their work to ensure this deal came to life. And I think, you know, one of the things that they're a small group of us that got together last evening and we were talking and this is something that everyone who's been involved in soccer in America should be proud of. You, whether directly or indirectly, made today possible. And it's something that, you know, I know I appreciate, we very much appreciate, and we're certainly excited about, about what's ahead.
Glenn Crooks: Hi Mauricio, Glenn Crooks from Sirius XMFC. Regarding your assistants, so you've brought the same three with you along the way. They're your colleagues, they’re your friends. I'm wondering, do you think it's important to include someone who has experience in the States, maybe even experience with the current players, maybe someone who knows the American landscape better? Or do you think that's not really necessary for you?
MP: Yes, of course, my closest staff is going to be with me. We are going to add another person also that is going to arrive. But after, I think, as we talk, we, JT and Matt and, of course, Cindy, to be open, to add people here. I think we have a staff that already we need to make because I think we are going to meet all the staff that is in the Federation that have the knowledge and experience working here and working with the players that we are going to work with. And I think we need to first provide, I think, the possibility to the people in the Federation. And then, of course, we feel, or we identify, that we need to add some people that can help. Of course, they are very open. And, of course, I am open, you know, to add to our group, to the staff, possibility to bring another person that can help. But I think the information that they translate to us. I think we have very qualified people working in the Federation that can help very quick to us and then, of course, we are going to, we are a coaching staff that always tries to improve. I work with Jesus for 14 years, and then with Tony, that is a good coach, and Miguel that I know for all my life. I think it's people that have the qualification, and then people that challenge me. We work because I think the personalities and the qualities that they have fit for me like a coach, and then we create a very good relationship. Maybe we can say that we are friends, but in between friends and we always are going to be professional, because he is my friend, and he's killing me, doing wrong things, since that are not right. I know, going ‘okay, you are my friend, but out of my, you know my group’. I think sometimes, people are confused. People say, no, you need to always bring people from outside, because I don't know I think that it is priceless to have people that work with you and every day want to challenge you and want to improve and be better. I think for me, that is the most important thing. But of course, we are flexible and we are always hoping to add people, because we know that football is changing. Technology is here, and now we need hands to work, people to work, and because we need to analyze, we have tools for, you know, to work really, really hard. In the past, 30 years ago, only one coach, one fitness coach, and three analysts, and that's it. But now, this business is really, really important to have all that you need to cover and you need people, qualified people, working next to us to provide us information to be better and to help the players to perform.
Shane O’Brien: Hi Mauricio. Shane O'Brien from AM New York. As host nation, the US won't have a huge number of competitive games over the next two years, and I'm just wondering for you, do you think that will be a challenge, and also how much priority you're putting on the Nation's League games coming up to see your players in a competitive environment?
MP: We need to assess the players every single day, and we don't know what is going to happen if players start to play, not to play, injured player. I think, I think it's more global. It's more big picture. It's not only to be focusing on one competition. I think the objective is improve first, that is a principal objective for us is to improve, provide a good platform for them to perform, to feel comfortable every time that they will join us. And then for me, it's not a friendly game. For me, it’s official. When I was a player with Argentina, Copa America, World Cup, or friendly it was the same to show that you are the best and win the game for your country, for your pride and everything, because that is what it means to be competitive. We are going to be focusing on that. But of course, that the priority to arrive in the best condition for the World Cup, that is a principal objective now. And people that say maybe think in a different way? I think it's not true. But for me, the priority now is improve, improve and improve and provide the team the best tools to try to perform as soon as possible.
Rory Robinson: Hi, Mauricio over here. Rory Robinson from The Mirror. My question for you is, I know you touched on it a little bit when you first sat down, but what was your main reasons for actually taking this job, and can you walk us up through the moments of you actually signing your deal and making it official?
MP: Why I take the job, I think I explained before, no? I think there was too many reasons, and I think it's a great opportunity for us, like a coaching staff, to live that experience, because we really believe that is the most important thing, because we really believe that we can do something good and work in a very nice environment. But if you say to me, I need to pick only one sentence or one word, because we believe. Belief. It’s belief that we can help to work together and to try to achieve what the people and us all want, you know, to win and to not only win games, to go for big trophies. To have the possibility to be there competing for the World Cup, or the Copa America, or the trophies for all the fans and, of course, the players and us, we dream.
Sean McCaffery: Bienvenidos Technico. Sean, Soccer Long Island Magazine. You were clearly the biggest splash that's been made on the men's side since Bora. How much of a commitment does that show to you? How much confidence does that give you going in knowing that you're being supported and that they went big yet again?
MP: Thank you for your question, but I think Bora, that is my friend, by the way, I want to say also hello to him, because he's amazing. He's massive. You know, Bora is another person that you can be inspired by him. But I think we were talking a lot in the way that we want to plan, to work all together and to try to provide. For me, the most important is the platform. What i mean by the platform is in all the areas to try for the player, to improve, and to analyze and then see how we can improve and create an environment that the players want to come, want to train, want to improve. You know, really believe in the way that we are going to train, to act, to behave on the training camps. That is the most important thing is. And like I said before, belief for me is a world that is so powerful. You can have an enormous talent, and you can be clever, but in football, you need to believe. Believe that all is possible; we find a way to believe altogether. And I think we can for sure achieve what we want.
Andrew Jones: Good morning to you all. Felicidades Mauricio for this role. Wanted to ask you, how did your family react to the news of you becoming United States coach and how difficult it is to leave club football? What made it easier for you to say, I'm going to be in International Football. And for you, Matt, you knew Mauricio since your Southampton days, what if anything has changed from the bond that you've had? Cindy, just from you knowing about Mauricio and then seeing him as a person, what's been your perspective now that you've seen him as a person now?
Matt Crocker: I mean, I think the more important, or as important, is what's not changed. And I think you can, you can spend a lot of time in the game at the top level, and it can change some people in terms of the type of person they are. I think Mauricio’s impact when I was at Southampton many, many years ago, when he came in with Jesus and his staff. The biggest thing everybody remembers about Mauricio is not only is he a great coach, but he's what I call a connector of people. So somebody that can build outstanding relationships, not just with the players who are starting, but the players who are either not on the team, to the staff across the club, from somebody that might work in the ticket office to somebody that might work within the administration team. And I just remember every day him coming through everybody's office with Jesus and he would pretty much physically hug everybody in the club. He created this unbelievable spirit, and that's something that hasn't left him. I see that today in terms of how what an amazing person he is above all, also what an amazing coach and a leader he is. But obviously what has changed is the volume of experience that he's had. Obviously, he was an unbelievable player, not just playing at club level, but internationally at the top, top level. And obviously he's gone on to, you know, be the head coach of some of the best teams in the world. And you know, arguably, has helped those teams achieve huge success, both from a Champions League perspective, from a player development perspective, and has won trophies in multiple countries. That experience layered on the foundations of the man, I think, you know, enables us to have to be in an exciting position where I can't wait for Mauricio and the guys to come in and join our existing staff to help us improve this playing group as we move towards 2026.
Cindy Parlow Cone: Yeah, just to add to that, I think for me, in my first interaction, just seeing how open and honest and transparent he is with everything. I mean, you've seen it today, how he's communicating with all of you, and just a great person. Obviously, his football resume speaks for itself, but I think beyond that, also his passion, and you've heard it from him today, his belief and that we can go and do great things, and that he can help us get there. And so I think putting all of these things together, his great soccer acumen, great leader, great person, a great motivator, and his passion.Put all that together, it led us to believe that we have the best person in the world for this job.
MP: My family is, like I learned in Southhampton, is over the moon. I didn't speak English in the moment too much, and I used always Jesus or one person that was working with me in the press conference, and after one answer, I said, ‘No, I am happy, content.’ And he said ‘he's over the moon.’ I said, ‘I am not over the moon.’ My family is so excited also, because like Cindy was explaining how I am, I'm quick. If I am happy, I am motivated and show passion, and my family can feel that [I am] so happy. And my family has seen me in the last few weeks, few months with the fire in my eyes and that is the most important thing, how you feel. I feel so, so, so happy, and I think my family is also so excited [about] that challenge, because they are a part [of this], because they support me.
