The question was asked 20 minutes into Mauricio Pochettino’s press conference as coach of the United States men’s national team; it was the first question of the event in his native language, Spanish.
“It gives me pause,” Pochettino joked when given the chance to improve his English.
“What was the challenge that prompted you to take the job in the US?” the journalist asked.
The question got to the heart of a problem that overshadowed the entire event in a gleaming skyscraper in New York City’s Hudson Yards development. Why would an executive with such a huge reputation see this as his next move?
The 52-year-old former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager first spoke about the feeling he had during his meetings with US Soccer executives, then about the great potential of the sport in the US, before getting to his most important task: taking the US national team to the next level.
“It’s a challenge that takes us out of our comfort zone,” Pochettino said with a laugh in Spanish. “For us, it’s easy to tackle things that we already know, and we already have a quick vision and an idea (of how to achieve it). But here it’s about tackling something that you don’t know very well; getting out of your comfort zone so you can challenge yourself.
“It’s not just about the challenge of achieving things together, but also about challenging yourself.”
US Soccer CEO JT Batson, Technical Director Matt Crocker, Pochettino and President Cindy Parlow (Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Whether intentionally or not, Pochettino set himself on a parallel path with his new team. For several cycles, the idea of “stepping out of your comfort zone to grow” has been a part of the USMNT’s journey to improvement. The idea dates back to Jurgen Klinsmann, but it was also frequently discussed by former coach Gregg Berhalter.
But the idea is about more than just going to Europe to play for the biggest clubs. It’s about understanding how to find the right challenges that force you to grow. To get better.
That Pochettino sees this job as a challenge to his own growth was perhaps the most important takeaway from Friday’s press conference. The US needed a new voice to push them to take the next step, beyond potential and results. They now begin that journey with a coach who has a bigger reputation than anyone else in the room, but who is seeking the same type of growth.
Pochettino came across as charming, excited and motivated at the press conference. He spoke about his joy at being with the U.S., the honor of being the first Spanish-speaking Latin American coach in the program’s history, and his connection to U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes and the potential impact the USWNT’s winning history could have on the men’s program.
He told a story about learning the English term ‘over the moon’ in his early days as manager of Southampton in the Premier League and said he and his family Are overjoyed that he accepted this new job.
His continued switching between English and Spanish was a historic moment in itself and emblematic of how this appointment creates an unprecedented opportunity for US Soccer to reach the country’s vast and growing Latino population.
Pochettino, however, understood very well that reaching fans, both new and old, depends on one thing: winning.
Pochettino is introduced to the media at Hudson Yards (Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Pochettino returned several times throughout the morning to a simple idea that he believes can help this team move forward: belief. He said the word “believe” a dozen times during the hour-long event. For a coach known for his ability to inspire a dressing room, it hinted at the way he focuses on mentality and psychology as much as tactics.
“‘Believe’ is a word for me that is a powerful word,” Pochettino said. “You can have enormous talent and you can be clever, but in football you have to believe. Believe that everything is possible. If we find a way to believe all together, then we will definitely succeed.”
He later reinforced that idea by turning his attention to the World Cup that the US will host together with Mexico and Canada in two years.
“We really have to believe in big things,” Pochettino said. “Believe that we can win not just a game, but the World Cup. … We want players who come to training camp on day one and think big. That’s the only way to create this philosophy or this idea together to perform and put your talent at the service of the team. That’s going to be our huge challenge.”
Restoring that belief is at the top of his to-do list as coach of the U.S. national team.
The U.S. clearly had no confidence in the September transfer window, which Pochettino said was understandable given their performance in the Copa América. Their performance in a loss to Canada and a draw with New Zealand only exacerbated the problems within the group. Pochettino didn’t seem overly concerned about the overall culture of the group, however, and then hinted at the idea of tapping into the “winning mentality” that permeates American sports and drawing inspiration from the winning culture that the U.S. women have long demonstrated.
“We are here because we want to win,” Pochettino said.
The video board announces Pochettino’s appointment during the friendly against New Zealand in Cincinnati (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Of course, ideas about the playing style were also discussed.
“We are in the US,” Pochettino said. “I think we have to convince our fans, this is to attract (them), and the aesthetics are really important. We want to play beautiful football, good football, exciting football, attacking football. And then of course we want to have possession, because we are also a coaching staff with a philosophy of having the ball. We have to run, we have to move, we have to give options, good angles to your teammate. … And then when we don’t have the ball, we have to run, we have to be aggressive, we have to be competitive.
“The potential is there. The talent is there. It’s just about creating the best platform for them to express themselves.”
While Pochettino acknowledged that these are his team’s trademarks, he also said he wants to get a feel for his players before revealing how the U.S. team will play.
That process will begin in the coming days, as Pochettino will inevitably sit down and meet with members of the playing pool, including star Christian Pulisic. Pochettino said he wants to hear from the squad individually, to get feedback on how they see things. He will then bring the group together for the first time next month for friendlies in Austin, Texas, and Guadalajara, Mexico.
The process of getting a deal done was long, taking more than two months from the start of recruitment to his formal introduction. Pochettino admitted it was tough to sit through it. He was ready to get started.
Now the clock has started. The U.S. has less than two years until the World Cup and a mountain to climb to be ready. But they have a coach few could have imagined leading this group to that tournament.
A coach who now tries to make the team believe in and around the team.
GALLING DEEPER
How USMNT landed Pochettino: Hayes’ role, Chelsea delays and an Argentinian steak
(Top photo: Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
