U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino continued to make it clear that no matter what league you play in, players will get their opportunity if they earn it.
Pochettino made nine changes to his starting lineup on Tuesday as the USMNT rolled past 10-men Uruguay 5-1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Alex Freeman scored his first two senior goals, Sebastian Berhalter set the tone with a fabulous finish, before Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna also found the back of the net.
Despite many European stars missing out this window, plenty of players impressed in the final window of 2025. Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna, and Max Arfsten all impressed in Saturday’s victory over Paraguay while many others excelled three nights later in their November finale.
Pochettino hit back at recent comments made about his squad, standing up for all of his players and saying everyone is fighting for one overall goal.
“I don’t want to be negative, no, but I hate, I hate that, ‘not regular players.’ What [does it] mean?” Pochettino said postmatch about his starting lineup not featuring many European-based players. “It’s USA playing, it’s the national team. Stop with that mindset. Every time that our decision is about to pick a starting XI, it’s the U.S. men’s national team playing.
“I hate to talk in this way. It’s so disrespectful,” he added. “It’s so disrespectful because I think we need to give credit to all the guys…What I really, really appreciate from the team, for the roster and for all the staff, is in the way that we start to connect together, and that is the most important thing.”
The USMNT grabbed a first-half lead through Berhalter’s stellar free kick routine and never looked back in the match. Despite pulling a first-half consolation back before halftime, Uruguay endured its worst defeat of the Marcelo Bielsa-era, and conceded four goals or more for the first time since October 2021.
Even Pochettino’s second-half substitutes had a say in the result with Gio Reyna providing Tessmann for his first international goal and the dagger in any slim Uruguay comeback hopes. All-in-all, it was a really productive evening for the USMNT, who claimed their 11th win of the year and enjoyed their largest-ever margin of victory against a CONMEBOL opponent.
The USMNT’s final window before Pochettino picks his FIFA World Cup roster comes next March against two opponents that have not yet been finalized. Portugal will reportedly be one of them in Atlanta while the second has yet to be determined.
Pochettino is proud of the progress that his team made in 2025, his first full year at the helm, but admits the belief and improvement from the squad needs to continue in 2026.
“There is still a lot of work to do, but I think it’s about to keep believing, it’s to keep pushing,” Pochettino said.
There was such a chemistry among the players this window, especially last night. It was an amazing thing to see. Wow does Poch now have some tough choices to make, and that’s a good thing. I wonder if he is considering last night’s lineup closer to his world cup 11 than the one we would all make with the missing/injured stars. I mean, that was the best USMNT performance in my recent memory…
“I don’t want to be negative, no, but I hate, I hate that, ‘not regular players.’ What does it mean?” “I hate to talk in this way. It’s so disrespectful,” he added. “It’s so disrespectful because I think we need to give credit to all the guys”.
We’ve been waiting on a coach like this for a while……and he is proving his worth IN GOLD!!!!
Now if that doesn’t light a fire under Adams, McKennie, Musah, Weah, Cardoso, Malik Tillman, Turner……and don’t know what will.
I love it. Absolutely love it!!!!!
Absolutely! His “no positions are safe” mentality is definitely what the squad needs for everyone to realize it must be a full dedication and leave everything on the field level of play every time. Everyone has to earn it every time!
I would argue most guys do that, they play with that mentality you’re talking about, with some notable exceptions, and for those specific players, this is awesome.
I do not believe that most of the pool dogs it out there when given opportunities, or pouts, or whatever…but we all know the ones who do, but to smear them all with the label? not for me. Adams for example? he never dogs it, like ever!!
but some other crowd favorites do, not mentioned
Credit given because credit earned!!
respect