Pochettino Aims to Instill Argentine Passion into USA Team

USA national team coach Mauricio Pochettino aims to instill an Argentine-style mentality in his players, emphasizing the importance of passion, pride, and patriotism in their performances.

USA national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has been quick to praise the quality of American players, but he's eager to instill a winning mentality reminiscent of his native Argentina. Pochettino spent the week working with a group of mainly domestic-based MLS players in South Florida, ahead of a friendly against Venezuela on Saturday. While impressed with the improvement in MLS's standard of play, Pochettino wants his team to embody the relentless desire to win that has become a hallmark of Argentine football.

“One thing from Argentina that I can apply here, it is so simple but, it is the way they compete,” Pochettino told reporters after training at Inter Miami's facility. He emphasized the importance of mentality, saying, “The Argentine players compete, the mentality. When you lose a ball, you cry. When you lose a game, you spend maybe one week in your room and don't want to go out.” Pochettino wants his players to adopt this mindset, to feel a deep sense of pride and responsibility when representing their country.

Pochettino elaborated on what he means by this mentality, saying, “How do you defend your badge, your flag? How do you defend your identity, your culture? I think that is what we want to translate. Because when you play for your national team and you are listening to your anthem, you need to feel something in your skin, inside yourself.” By instilling this sense of passion and patriotism, Pochettino hopes to inspire his team to greater heights.

Mauricio Pochettino believes that instilling a sense of patriotic pride in his players can have a tangible impact on their performance. “If you feel that, I don't know the percentage that you are going to give more, but for sure it is 1 or 5 or 10 per cent more. You are going to have an extra energy, an extra everything,” he explained. Pochettino is confident that his players have the capacity to embody this attitude, citing their professionalism, discipline, and quality.

“We are capable to feel that. We have the quality and the capacity. We are professional, so professional. We have discipline. I think we can build a very competitive team,” Pochettino said. With the USA set to co-host the World Cup in 2026, alongside Mexico and Canada, Pochettino is keenly aware of the importance of building a strong team. Before that tournament, the USA will have opportunities to compete for titles in CONCACAF's Nations League Finals in March and the Gold Cup in June.

It's not where you came from. It's how you perform while you're here. pic.twitter.com/RNhQaO0H4r

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) January 17, 2025

For the upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica, Pochettino will be without his European-based players, such as AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic, due to the games falling outside of FIFA's official dates for matches. The transfer window has also brought changes to Pochettino's squad, with left-back John Tolkin moving from New York Red Bulls to Holstein Kiel. Pochettino revealed that players have been consulting with him and his staff about potential transfers, which he sees as a positive sign. “It's nice because it means that they trust us,” he said. “If they want us, we are part of giving advice. I think for us that means a lot,” he added.