The United States men’s national team (USMNT) is set to appear in its 12th FIFA World Cup this year, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino at the helm. And, one USMNT star has showered praise on the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager of late.
So, why has the American soccer player recently waxed lyrical about the Argentine coach?
USMNT Ace Opines on Mauricio Pochettino’s Coaching Style
During a recent interview with FIFA, AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun credited Pochettino and his coaching staff for building a competitive environment in the national team camp.
Asked to opine on USMNT’s recent run of good form, Balogun replied, “I think you have to give credit to Pochettino and his staff. They have created an atmosphere where nobody feels like their place is guaranteed. I think that is the most important thing you can do when you have such a big pool of players like the USA does.”
Balogun, who has earned 23 international caps so far, asserted that few players outside of the top European leagues previously stood a chance of being called up to the USMNT.
“It was easy for maybe some guys who didn’t get previously called up to almost psychologically go into a place where you don’t feel like you can get picked, you don’t feel like your domestic league warrants you getting picked for the national team because that’s what you’ve been shown before,” the former Arsenal ace added.
Revealing how Pochettino is open to offering lesser-known players to shine for USMNT, the AS Monaco star concluded, “But Pochettino has come in with a completely new philosophy and if he thinks someone is playing well and is playing in a division like Major League Soccer. then he will pick them. That is a wake-up call for everybody and naturally, that will get a reaction, but he’s also been able to add the smartness and the tactician side to it and I think both sides are gelling together.”
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Pochettino, a former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager, replaced Gregg Berhalter as the USMNT boss in September 2024. He has overseen 13 wins and seven losses in 22 matches in charge so far, helping his team defeat Uruguay 5-1 in their most recent clash.
The 2022 Ligue 1-winning tactician is set to guide the USMNT in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the side participating as one of the co-hosts. He will be hoping to help his team finish atop Group D, consisting of Australia, Paraguay, and the UEFA Playoff C winner.