Mauricio Pochettino breaks down USMNT’s loss to Panama with Canada up next: ‘We expect more from everyone’

Inglewood, Calif. -Head coach Mauricio Pochettino of the American men, Mauricio Pochettino, said that the 1-0 loss of Thursday to Panama in the semi-final of the Concacaf Nations League was not a real representation of the identity and potential of the group, including Star Christian Pulisic.

The triple CNL winners lost the match after what Pochettino described as a first half that was “painful” to look and did not get the best out of the whole group, who dominated the possession and made 12 shots but only 0.68 expect goals against a defensive Panama side. Pulisic in particular was absent and only took one shot in the course of the game and although Pochettino was critical of his performance, his mood was not soured for the team’s most impactful player.

“It isn’t [an] Pardon, but a player like he is under pressure in recent months, high pressure, “he said on Saturday about Pulisic in pre-match comments prior to third place of the USMNT to Canada.” That is certainly not the Christian we want to see because I think he can do much better. … Sometimes this kind of competition arrived at a good time, sometimes not at a good time for different players and that can influence the performance of the team. But certainly, if we think of the main goal, that is the World Cup, and Christian will undoubtedly be ready and will be at his best … for us. “

USMNT player reviews: Tyler Adams Solid; Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah not aggressively enough in Panama loss

Chuck Booth

Pochettino also said that the show against Panama was not a real indication of what he wants it to look like, stylistic, under his leadership.

“I think we expect more from everyone, from all players. I think our expectation is so high,” he said. “One of the things I want to see that we were talking [about] Yesterday that game does not describe how we are like a team, such as individual players, such as coaches, such as the US National Team. For various reasons that can happen, we must improvise. “

The head coach also attributed some problems from Thursday to a lack of chemistry between the players he selected after he went with a new-look group that was partially forced by injuries. Yunus Musah and Timothy Weah sometimes played as wingbacks, rolling that are fairly new to them with the national team, while Tanner Tessman achieved one of his first starts for the senior team in midfield alongside Tyler Adams. Moreover, Josh Sargent was the starter at the top in the absence of Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, who have been generally arranged for him in recent years.

“That chemistry, I haven’t seen that chemistry,” said Pochettino. “That’s what worried me, what might be my fault and now we have to select different players and see if that happens.”

How can USMNT recover? What US Soccer should change before Canada match in Nations League Third Place Match

Chuck Booth

Pochettino teased that there will be some changes in the Line -up against Canada on Sunday, making the decision to make some rotation before the semi -final on Thursday. Canada will also offer a different tactical challenge than Panama, who chose to lean back for most of the game and only took their first shot on goal in the 94th minute, when Cecilio Waterman scored.

The Argentinian admitted that it was an imperfect achievement on Thursday, but that the team had a number of things right.

“Certainly, we deserved to win the game against Panama,” he said. “You analyze after 94, 95 minutes and with only one [shot] Panama scores on goal and beats us, but that is football. That’s football, and we have to accept and be [critical] Because I think I am coming right now, if you admit one goal, if you don’t shoot two, I think you win the game sooner. The problem was this lack of [scoring]. I think the discipline was there. The game plan, I think they followed the game plan. They tried to do everything. I can’t complain about not trying – they tried it. They ran, made the effort, but after that it’s about being really aggressive and competitive. “

Pochettino has fixed itself on determining the competitive advantage of the team in the first months of his term of office so far, a wise area of ​​attention, given how a lack of intensity – especially in the first half – came back to cost them against Panama. Whether or not they can come up with the correct reaction to Canada, can still be seen.

“It’s a question mark,” said Pochettino. “What we want to see is the same focus and concentration and mental level in every official, or [not] Official competition, and for me tomorrow will be an important game to see how we react. We have to show character. … it’s not just about the result, but it’s just about improving our performance. “

How to look and opportunities

• Date: Sunday March 23 | Time6 pm and
• Location: Sofi Stadium – Inglewood, California
• Live stream: Paramount+
• Chances: Canada +225; Drawing +230; Usmnt +114