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Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent
ST. LOUIS – United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino said it was “fantastic” to see his players perform in the team’s 4-2 win over Jamaica in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League, a win that gave the USMNT a 5-2 victory on aggregate.
The U.S. raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to a pair of goals from Christian Pulisic and another from Ricardo Pepi. Jamaica responded in the second half with a pair of goals from Demarai Gray, but those were sandwiched around a thumping strike from Tim Weah, to keep the Reggae Boyz at arm’s length.
It left Pochettino – who has been on the job for just over two months – impressed with how much the U.S. team has adapted to the concepts he’s tried to impart.
“I am so pleased. The first 45 minutes is the way that we want to grow, build our journey together and I think it was fantastic to see the player perform,” he said.
“In a short period, and with not too [much] time to work, I think in the way that they adapt and receive all the concepts and in the way that we try to play, I think they show that we have unbelievable players with the capacity to understand quick, learn quick and that is because [of] our talented players.”
Pochettino noted that he wasn’t pleased with the way the second half unfolded, with the Reggae Boyz netting twice. He said that his side needed to figure out a way to change the tempo before conceding a goal.
“We didn’t approach the [half] in the way that we wanted,” he said. “We were talking about that the challenge is to win the second half and that was only the thing that was a little bit [worrying]. Not to go to the second half with the same mentality and the same aggressiveness and the approach that we started the first half and that happened. I think we can call it mentality or we can use a different word but I think [these are] things that we still need to improve.”
Pochettino threw a tactical wrinkle at Jamaica in the first half, with usual left back Antonee Robinson pushing into midfield to not only help with the buildup but also help thwart counterattacks. He said that the first camp he held in October, the buildup was simpler, but the current camp allowed for a bit more experimentation.
“That rotation, that mobility to appear and to change position I think is in the way that we like to play and we want to play and I think what we were finding is see the player performing in different position, maybe non-natural position but become a natural way with time,” he said about the tactical switch involving Robinson.
“But I think it is, yes, it’s a thing that we are going to keep improving, keep testing. Also I think the objective is in 2026 to arrive in our best condition with the capacity with all the characteristics we have from the player, with the player that we have, to find the best way to perform.”
Pochettino said that after two camps, he’s happy with where the team is at, and is optimistic about the path the team is on.
“I’m so happy because in these two camps in two months I think it’s amazing in the way that we are one team,” he said.
“I think it’s a team that is very careful about each other, that we fight for each other, how the staff look after the player but the player look for the staff. I think we are creating that idea of [being] all together and feel confidence and that is the most important thing.”