East Hartford, Connecticut – US National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino had just offered a long response to Jack McGlynn’s performance on Loss 2-1 from the US to Turkey On Saturday, when he stopped and looked around in the room in front of him.
“It’s a good thing that we’re talking about football, huh?” He asked. “This is a good thing. Futbol.”
The implication, of course, was that much of Pochettino’s wrath after the failure of the March Nations League of March – and, in fact, the fan base frustration – focused less around real football in Losses to Panama and Canada. Yes, this team could not impress with what they did on the field, but more worrying was the lack of effort. The absence of struggle. The appearance of indifference.
The inclusion of several MLS players for this camp should add a little more hunger to a team that seemed not to have part of this internal motivation. The challenge changed a little when 10 US regulars were not available through commitments, injuries, personal reasons or a desire for rest, In the case of Christian Pulisic. Almost the whole group is full of hopeful now.
However, it allowed Pochettino to lean to the goal of the Golden Cup tournament, which starts for the US against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15. He clearly wants to try to inject competition and desire into the group.
Therefore, although it was strange and certainly spoke to the negative state in which this program is currently, which Pochettino and the players were mainly optimistic after a third consecutive loss, it was so saying that they found satisfaction in reaching what had been considered a minimum naked for USMNT.
“I think we need to be positive, because today I think we can only talk about Futbol action, soccer action,” said Pochettino. “The team showed great energy, great mindset, great attitude. And then it is this kind of game that maybe, if you make a mistake, you can lose. But you made a mistake because it is football, that is Futbol. That’s why I think I’m so happy with the way we think we deliver the program and the way we try to play.”
Malik Tillman missed a golden opportunity to score against Turkey. (David Butler II/Image Images)
It was not completely unfair for Pochettino to feel like positives to cling to the loss of a talented side of Türkiye. The US was the best team in the first 20 minutes. Pochettino properly pointed out that, until Johnny Cardoso I made a blatant mistake in its own box and a goal of a goal, the US seemed to control.
The inexperienced American team fought to regain the composure after Cardoso’s extra touch and tried to walk with Arda Güler from Turkey, the 20 -year -old Real Madrid wing and on the net. Just about two minutes later, a lack of break was easily placed at home by Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who throws his club football at Benfica, to give Turkey the lead.
The US kept the rest of the first half, but came out after the interval with renewed energy and much more purposes. He created chances – a weakness for this team in the last two cycles – and they should probably have a draw. Malik Tillman’s header was the best opportunity, but there were also some other decent eyes, including two on Max Arfsten’s pole.
“Many positives to take this game,” said US -enabled Tyler Adams. “I was saying before, when we were leaving the field, I think it’s one of the first times we went down, and we created so many clear chances later. So, I think it’s a great positive for us. Now, just put the ball on the back of the network.”
After five days together, Pochettino felt that football could be adjusted and fixed. There were many other details that the group would continue to add and build how they played on Saturday. And Pochettino felt that the game provided an important experience for many of the players. On the one hand, he pointed to 24 -year -old Patrick Agyemang, fighting two central backs, çağlar Söyüncü and Merih Demiral, who played on the “highest levels”.
Agyemang, which grew miles from Connecticut Stadium, assumes DeMiral. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
But Pochettino’s focus was on the kind of effort the team showed on the field.
It was clear in the coach’s comments in the last weeks that he was frustrated with the pool – or at least with How things unfolded in March “And that he was also in tune with what people were saying about the team.”
This summer and the next Golden Cup, seem to send a message. On Saturday, Pochettino placed the first signs of smoke of his intention.
But now there is a strange type of dynamic in which this group, full of debutantes and unproven players from the national team, can define a standard that should lead to the next summer World Cup – and for the “golden generation” of players who carry so much expectation in this tournament.
This is not an assumption. Pochettino said the same.
“If I decide in September (to call a) different list, what I want is the same level of commitment, attitude,” said the veteran coach. “Today, who will tell me, ‘Oh, we show a lack of …’? ‘We show a lack of …’ lack of what?
“Today, I think we can all agree that the team showed what they needed to show. And then, if the opponent is better or was lucky or you made a mistake, it’s not a problem. But surely, playing that way, we’ll win most games.”
Saturday’s “first step” in the reconstruction process was a loss. If the message is really seizing, the US and Pochettino will also need the following results.
(Top photo: Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
