Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT project began with intensity this week in Texas. Fresh off long flights from Europe, their minds and bodies weary, players pushed through “tough” training sessions; Tuesday’s was “one of the longer ones we’ve had with the national team,” veteran defender Tim Ream said.
They also began, of course, with “basics,” with rudimentary movements, with introductory meetings. “The most important [thing],” Pochettino said last week, “is that we need to set a few principles, few concepts” — rather than “spend two, three hours talking about tactics.”
The hope, though, is that eventually, those principles and concepts will ignite the U.S. men’s national team; that Pochettino, the most eminent and expensive coach in program history, will revolutionize it.
And if he does, the revolution will probably take shape in soccer’s three most consequential seconds — the ones after his players lose the ball.
It is difficult to know exactly how Pochettino plans to transform the USMNT. Although his name conjures visions of the brave, relentless press he brought to Southampton and Tottenham, he has frequently adapted his tactics to his personnel — especially at his last two stops, PSG and Chelsea. He reined in the press. He has often tweaked attacking shapes. In fact, some of his “positional play” and formations might remind fans of what they saw under previous U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter.
Where he’ll likely differ, though, is in defensive transition. “It’s the phase when you lose the ball that we are going to be very, very, very demanding,” Pochettino said last week.
In this critical phase of the sport, a team essentially has two options: to retreat…
Pochettino’s starting point: Berhalter Ball
Before we delve into Poch Ball, though, let’s rewind and define Berhalter’s USMNT — which evolved over time.
It began with an ideal, a stated desire to “use the ball to disorganize the opponent and create goalscoring opportunities.” The purpose of the team’s possession, though, seemed to morph into more of a defensive one over time. They prioritized “rest defense” — the positioning of players, while in possession, to protect against opponent counterattacks. When asked about the team’s tactical identity on the eve of the 2024 Copa América, Berhalter said, in part: “One thing I know for sure: Our most success is gonna come from being able to limit our opponents’ high-quality goalscoring opportunities.”
And in many ways, he accomplished that. In three group games at the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT conceded zero goals from open play. At the Copa América, when games were 11-v-11, they were similarly sturdy. Against Mexico, in World Cup qualifiers and the past two Nations League finals, the USMNT kept four consecutive clean sheets.
The relatively cautious, rigid approach shielded and nullified weaknesses at center back. But it came with tradeoffs. Solidity came at the expense of attacking fluidity and adventurousness. And this became Berhalter’s downfall. The U.S. struggled to consistently create high-quality chances of its own, especially through central areas.
The million-dollar question was, and is: Was that a tactical failure? Or a player failure?
Or, more likely, was all of this a debatable-but-reasonable choice that Berhalter made based on the players at his disposal? His most dynamic ones — Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson — played in wide areas. His defensive midfielder, Tyler Adams, was much better at cleaning up mistakes and stifling counters than progressive passing. His best central playmaker, Gio Reyna, was often unavailable due to injury.
So, Berhalter strayed from his ideals — as many club coaches who come to international soccer realize they must do. He became more pragmatic, tailoring game plans opponent by opponent.
“In June, Berhalter stated that when looking at the top teams in the world, the key to their success is their ability to adapt. Now, the question arises as to whether Pochettino will share a similar belief.
Part of Pochettino’s philosophy aligns with Berhalter’s views from nearly six years ago. Pochettino prioritizes playing with the ball and dominating possession to defend effectively and create scoring opportunities. He emphasizes building attacks from the back and encourages his players to move intelligently to support each other on the field.
In a recent Zoom call with reporters, Pochettino emphasized controlling both the attacking and defensive transition phases of the game. He values structured attacking play, similar to Guardiola, to ensure a smooth transition from attack to defense when needed. Pochettino’s teams historically have been aggressive in pressing opponents and winning the ball back quickly.
However, Pochettino’s tactics may vary depending on the team he is coaching and the players at his disposal. At PSG, he adapted his approach to suit the strengths of Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi. Similarly, at Chelsea, his team pressed less aggressively than at Tottenham.
As for the USMNT, Pochettino brings flexibility and intensity to the team. He is open to adjusting formations and tactics based on the players’ characteristics and the opponents they face. Despite facing challenges with injuries to key players, Pochettino remains focused on conveying his vision and instilling intensity in his team’s play.
With limited time before the 2026 World Cup, Pochettino is working to implement his strategies and prepare the team for upcoming matches, starting with a friendly against Panama. His emphasis on intensity and adaptability will be key as the team navigates the road to the World Cup.”
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