Soccer <\/p>\n
Mauricio Pochettino has generally been a genial, positive presence at the helm of the US men\u2019s national team<\/a>, even when results, performances or off-field drama have cast a shadow.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n That changed on Monday afternoon in Columbus.<\/p>\n Almost exactly one year into his USMNT tenure, the Argentine coach was downright confrontational in his Matchday-1 press conference ahead of Tuesday\u2019s friendly vs. Japan, doubling down on his defense of Saturday\u2019s dour 2-0 loss<\/a> to South Korea and rounding on \u201ccritics\u201d whose negativity is \u201cdamaging your country and damaging your players\u201d with a home World Cup looming.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we perform, despite the result, in a very good way,\u201d he told reporters at the Columbus Crew<\/a>\u2019s OhioHealth Performance Center, the training facility built on the site of Historic Crew Stadium, where the USMNT\u2019s \u201cDos a Cero\u201d legend took root a quarter-century ago. \u201cThe players tried to do \u2013 they did \u2013 what we wanted. I think I am positive because the players trust in the process, because they know that we have a plan. Everyone knows here inside that we have a plan, and we stick with the plan.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I am the first guy that is interested to win, because you know very well that we are very competitive. But in the same time also is the process and the plan that we have, I stick with that, and the players know very well that\u2019s what we are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The weekend\u2019s loss ran the Yanks\u2019 record under \u2018Poch\u2019 to 9W-6L-1D, a regression from his predecessor Gregg Berhalter in both statistical and trophy-collection terms. Yet the boss maintained that the results that matter most are next summer\u2019s and vowed not to veer off course amid a rising tide of dissatisfaction with his side\u2019s performances as he and his staff continue to evaluate newer faces and those further down the depth chart.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why, he explained, he\u2019s being cautious with both minutes and call-ups for the likes of Chris Richards and Malik Tillman, taking into account their situations at club level with an eye on the long term.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not amateurs. We are professional people,\u201d Pochettino said, uttering the word \u2018plan\u2019 14 times in all. \u201cI wanted to win against South Korea. I want to win tomorrow against Japan.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the same time, we need to provide the game time to players that maybe have not [much] experience, and maybe we can struggle and make a mistake, and maybe we can compromise the result. Of course, I want to win, but also we need to think in the process and give the possibility to players to perform, and put the coaching staff in a very difficult situation.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Pushing. Preparing. pic.twitter.com\/amo3F67Eqq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The Yanks\u2019 struggles to deal with the danger of LAFC<\/a> superstar Son Heung-Min<\/a>, who bagged a goal and an assist on Saturday at the New York Red Bulls<\/a>\u2019 Sports Illustrated Stadium, pushed them behind the 8-ball before the halftime whistle, rendering insufficient a late rally sparked by several substitutes.<\/p>\n Their next opponent figures to be every bit as testing. The slick-passing Samurai Blue sit sixth places higher than South Korea in the current FIFA World Rankings and posted slightly better numbers in their successful AFC World Cup qualification campaign. Pochettino hinted that he\u2019ll nevertheless rotate his lineup in central Ohio, eager to cultivate depth and flexibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThe World Cup is not a moment after to make tests or to give the possibility to get experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is why you cannot be surprised if tomorrow I do some changes, and some players that maybe didn\u2019t play, they play. Because also we want to give game time, because it’s the moment now for them to get experience, just in case, or because they perform so well<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes people want to talk only to analyze the result and want to be negative. And I think it’s a little bit a shame. We need to be positive, because we need to be all together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n “It’s the first time I’m playing here, so I’m excited.”<\/p>\n Folarin Balogun provides a look at tomorrow’s match in Columbus. ???? pic.twitter.com\/X4L0hsVLUK<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nStaying the course<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Lofty test<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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