“The players must believe that we can win the World Cup”

Mauricio Pochettino, who was unveiled on Friday as the new United States coach, has set the ultimate goal for his management and said his players must believe they can “win the World Cup” that his country will host in 2026 when they start working with him.

Pochettino made this statement at the press conference organized in New York, accompanied by the president of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), Cindy Parlow Coneand the sports director Matt Crocker. In the event, the Argentine coach He expressed his pride in being the first Latin coach to lead Team USA, with less than two years left until the 2026 World Cup that the North American country will host along with Mexico and Canada.

“A big challenge”

Dressed in a blue suit and white shirt, Pochettino is very smiling and energetic, convinced that he faced a “tremendous challenge” to lead the United States to a “different degree.”

“They say there’s no time to prepare, what I’m saying is I’m thinking we have enough time, I don’t want to make excuses. Football is like that, you have to press the right button. Players are smart, they can play others. We have to believe, we have to believe that we can win, that we can win the World Cup, because if not it will be complicated,” Pochettino emphasized.

“thinking big”

“We want the players to go to the camp thinking big. They must put their talent at the service of the team. That will be the biggest challenge,” added the former Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea coach.

The United States was eliminated in the group stage at the last Copa América, which it hosted, under the direction of Gregg Berhalter. The coach was fired in July after that tournament.

Get out of the comfort zone

“There is huge potential and the challenge to take the men’s team to another level, which they have probably reached at the time, is a huge challenge. It is a challenge that takes us out of our comfort zone. This is where it comes in. without knowing that one, take yourself out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself”, Pochettino assured.

“It is a challenge to ourselves to refresh ourselves again in a soccer that has always been attractive to us, but now gives us the possibility to play it from here,” he added.

The Messi effect

Pochettino has considered the signing of Leo Messi for MLS’s Inter Miami in 2023, Americans have become even more passionate about soccer and have shown their pride in the way Argentina exports its talent, on the field and on the bench.

“I take it as a big responsibility, I hope those 70 million Latinos came to support the team. We need everyone’s support. “All the fields when the national team is playing must be full, they have to fight for a ticket,” he said.

“The Argentine coach has courage because of how he lives football, which is better than an Argentine to convey that feeling,” said Pochettino.

find the idea

The Argentine coach emphasized that his priority is to get to know his players, follow them during the season at their clubs and talk to find a football idea that allows them to reach their maximum potential.

“We are going to try to be attentive and leave the doors open for them to show that they can represent. They have to understand that if they perform, we will watch there,” he explained.

“The most important thing is to establish an idea that works for everyone, in which the players believe. We have to listen, share ideas. We are very flexible, we are a coaching staff that likes aesthetics, we like to play of good football, we have We have to attract the fans We want to have possession, we have to run, but when we don’t have the ball we have to be aggressive, competitive, have potential, have talent, it’s about creating the best. condition,” said Pochettino.