USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is focusing on MLS players for the upcoming Gold Cup roster, a significant shift from the recent trend of prioritizing European-based talent. Facing a shortage of big names and recent catastrophic results, Pochettino seeks players with "attitude" and a winning mentality from the domestic league to improve the team's performance ahead of a home World Cup.
Pochettino turns to an unlikely savior for USMNT’s struggles: MLS
United StatesMLSSportsUS sports
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is focusing on MLS players for the upcoming Gold Cup roster, a significant shift from the recent trend of prioritizing European-based talent. Facing a shortage of big names and recent catastrophic results, Pochettino seeks players with "attitude" and a winning mentality from the domestic league to improve the team's performance ahead of a home World Cup.
Trending- 1 2016: Jürgen Klinsmann dismissed.
- 2 2017: Night in Trinidad (USMNT failed to qualify for World Cup).
- 3 2022: Three MLS players started for US in World Cup games.
- 4 March (recent): Concacaf Nations League finals results were "catastrophic."
- 5 Copa América 2024: Zero MLS players started for US.
- 6 Recently: Pochettino announces Gold Cup camp roster with heavy MLS representation.
- 7 Next summer: World Cup.
- Potential shift in USMNT roster construction philosophy
- Opportunity for MLS players to prove themselves on the international stage
- Potential impact on team performance in upcoming tournaments
What: USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is heavily relying on MLS players for the Gold Cup roster, a departure from previous strategies that favored European-based talent. He is seeking players with strong attitude and winning mentality to address the team's recent struggles and prepare for the upcoming home World Cup.
When: Gold Cup camp roster announced; two years before a home World Cup; a year away from the international game’s signature event; couple months removed from Concacaf Nations League results.
Where: United States (USMNT context); Trinidad (inferred from 2017 event); Panama (inferred from March game).
Why: Pochettino believes the current USMNT crop lacks the necessary "attitude" and winning mentality, and recent Concacaf Nations League results were "catastrophic." He is short on big names and time before the home World Cup.
How: Pochettino has called up 16 MLS players out of a 27-man Gold Cup camp roster, including five uncapped players and many with little international experience, in place of European-based players.