U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) head coach Mauricio Pochettino has defended his player choices and the team’s recent performance following a 2-0 defeat to South Korea on Saturday, which marked his seventh loss out of 17 matches since he took the reins less than a year ago.

Pochettino claimed the USMNT performed better than their South Korean opponents, citing that they outshot the opposing team 17-5. However, concerns regarding team cohesion linger, especially with only nine months left until the World Cup and around 10 friendlies remaining on the schedule. Many pointed fingers at the defense, notably with Tristan Blackmon experiencing a shaky debut and Chris Richards sidelined. Pochettino stated that Richards arrived at camp with a minor injury, limiting his playtime.

In response to the criticism, Pochettino addressed the media, stating, “The essential thing is to apply common sense. If folks want to discuss bullshit, they can. It’s just a friendly match, and we take risks. Maybe we create bigger issues by playing him.”
Essentially, the focus of the team is on strategic preparations, not just on results from friendlies.

He also highlighted Malik Tillman, a newcomer from Bayer Leverkusen, who faced injury challenges during preseason, stressing the need to manage players’ fitness ahead of the World Cup. Pochettino’s insistence on providing experience to less seasoned players, like Blackmon, suggests a long-term strategy, implying that he intends to build a robust squad that can endure the pressures of the World Cup.

He emphasizes, “Sure, I wish to win, but we need to focus on the process and allow players to demonstrate their capabilities, especially under difficult circumstances.” Ultimately, Pochettino maintains that any critique directed at him should consider the broader context of team development as they prepare for the World Cup.