EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the U.S. Men`s National Team, faced the press after yet another loss, this time a 2-1 defeat against Turkey in the first of two pre-Gold Cup friendlies. However, he expressed relief about one aspect.
“We need to stay positive because today, I believe we can focus solely on the football itself,” he commented.
This statement was one of several he made, contrasting sharply with the post-mortems following the team`s disappointing defeats in the Concacaf Nations League finals in March. Those performances had focused heavily on the team`s lack of competitive intensity, overshadowing the tactical framework Pochettino was brought in to implement. Many see this team as having significant potential for the 2026 home World Cup. On Saturday, Pochettino`s intended style was evident: the aggressive pressing and high defensive line, hallmarks of his teams for years, were clearly visible. This tactical approach enabled the USMNT to control possession and edge Turkey 13-11 in shots.
The team`s execution of this plan was noteworthy, especially given the relative inexperience of the squad Pochettino is currently managing. Only six players had accumulated over 30 international caps before Saturday`s game. This match marked just the beginning of what is anticipated to be a month-long camp, including participation in the Gold Cup. Pochettino acknowledged that the players varied significantly in terms of fitness and international experience, making chemistry development inherently challenging, particularly while integrating new tactical concepts. He noted that the squad adapted well, highlighting how Jack McGlynn`s goal just two minutes into the match fit within the planned strategy.
Pochettino elaborated on the tactical setup:
“The gameplan was for Diego [Luna] to move inside, staying close to Malik [Tillman] to maintain control alongside Luca de la Torre and Johnny [Cardoso], while Jack positioned himself slightly wider but with the option to drift inside, which is how he scored or created chances through association. The idea was to utilize one flank, with Max Arfsten and Alex holding wider and often overlapping with Jack… We attempted this for the first time after only a few days of practice, and then you have to compete against a team like Turkey. I believe what we achieved by playing this way was control over possession and the game.”
Tyler Adams, one of the more experienced players who entered as a second-half substitute, mentioned that refining the specifics of the backline`s movements and coordination was a key focus during their initial week of training.
Adams explained:
“We`ve dedicated significant effort to the backline – focusing on spacing, when to step up, when to drop back, and how to defend within a deep block. You could see that we didn`t concede from those situations today. Of course, the second goal resulted from a slightly misjudged clearance that unfortunately fell perfectly for their player, but Pochettino has been strongly emphasizing the need to tighten things up defensively. You can observe that we are progressing, though it`s still a bit loose occasionally. Nevertheless, we are addressing the correct areas.”
The goals conceded highlighted areas needing improvement, as both stemmed from unforced errors. Johnny Cardoso was particularly involved in the build-up to Arda Guler`s equalizer in the 24th minute. While Pochettino dismissed it as a typical game incident, it underscores a need for greater precision across the pitch. Turkey`s head coach, Vincenzo Montella, acknowledged that his side adjusted their pressing strategy early on specifically to exploit the USMNT`s defense, resulting in them taking nine shots between the 19th and 35th minutes after having none in the opening phase. This raises questions about whether such an inexperienced USMNT squad is fully prepared to implement Pochettino`s preferred high defensive line, although he maintained it was premature to draw conclusions.
“In this kind of competition, experience plays a crucial role,” he stated. “That`s precisely why these two weeks are vital for our Gold Cup preparation.”
The USMNT`s attacking performance, led on Saturday by forward Patrick Agyemang, also requires refinement. Despite taking more shots than Turkey (13 vs 11), only three were on target, and they were statistically outperformed in expected goals (1.19 vs 1.42). The key challenge now is whether they can improve upon this showing over the next month, irrespective of their result in the Gold Cup final on July 6.
Adams commented:
“We set high standards for ourselves. Today, in a friendly match, we had the opportunity to experiment and take more risks. However, we need to become comfortable taking those risks so that we can successfully execute when it comes to competitive games.”
Dominic Ashworth