Mauricio Pochettino is ready for U.S. challenge

Mauricio Pochettino appreciates the challenge to lift the U.S. men’s national soccer team. Speaking in Spanish and English, the former Chelsea manager introduced himself to the American media during a press conference in New York.

Pochettino, 52, was officially named the 40th coach in U.S. men’s national team history on Tuesday. On Friday, the Argentine explained why he accepted the job leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will be held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

“The challenge is to take the men’s soccer team to a different level, a level that has been there or has gotten close in years past,” he told the media in Spanish on Friday morning. “That’s an enormous challenge. We’ve had experiences as technical directors in different clubs.

“I think this is a challenge that takes us out of our comfort zone. For us the easy thing is to choose things that we already know and we already have a quick vision and idea. But now it’s entering a bit of what you don’t know, entering to take you out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself.”

Mauricio Pochettino has impressive resume

Pochettino, who began his playing career with Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys, played in Argentina, Spain and France during his 17-year playing career. He also made 20 appearances as a center back for Argentina’s national soccer team. .

He represented his country in the 2019 Copa America and 2002 World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino began his head coaching career in 2009 in Spain’s La Liga. Over the next 15 years, he had coaching stints in La Liga, France’s Ligue 1 and the English Premier League.

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In perhaps his greatest achievement as a head coach, he guided the EPL’s Tottenham to the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final. Although they lost, he secured his legacy by taking Tottenham to its first and only Champions League Final.

He also guided Paris Saint-Germain to the 2022 Ligue 1 title. He took over at Chelsea in 2023. Now, he’ll manage a national team for the first time.

Ready for ‘challenge’

“I think it’s not just a challenge to accomplish things together,” he said. “But it’s also a challenge with ourselves to refresh ourselves in soccer, in football. For us that’s something we’ve always been attracted to and we’ve always looked at from afar. But now we have the opportunity to be here touching it.”

Putting this one on repeat. pic.twitter.com/BNWUfJ1VrF

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 13, 2024

After a disappointing showing at the Copa America tournament held in the U.S. this summer, the U.S. Soccer Federation hopes Mauricio Pochettino leads the men’s national team to a strong showing at the upcoming World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino raved about the potential for success with the men’s national soccer team. He hopes to instill his system and belief with his new team.

“Belief for me is a word that is a powerful word,” he said. “You can have enormous talent and you can be clever, but in football you need to believe, believe that all is possible. If we find a way to believe all together, I think … for sure we will achieve what we want.”