Alexi Lalas infamously thought it was an “unnecessary shot” from the US Soccer Federation to hire Mauricio Pochettino as the USMNT boss. Anyhow, Lalas now seems to have come to terms with the fact that the Argentine will be at the helm. However, he stresses that it is paramount for Pochettino to realize national team coaching is different from club football. Since the former PSG, Tottenham, and Chelsea boss is coaching a national team for the first time, Lalas insists the former should implement key changes to his management style.

During Lalas’ recent appearance on ‘The Herd with Colin Cowherd podcast,’ the host asked him what pressure Mauricio Pochettino has as the next USMNT boss. “This coach that you are looking at right here, in his club success, day after day, he is with these players. In an international setting, you don’t have that. Sometimes you have one or two training, sometimes you have hours with these players,” said Alexi Lalas, referring to Pochettino. Iterating Pochettino’s famous detailed-orient approach is difficult in an international setting. So Lalas called for a switch in his style.

“He’s going to have to switch his mind. Very smart coach, but switches his mind to be able to impart information very quickly. He can’t do it day in and day out. He can’t see those building blocks happening day in and day out it’s got to be raw it’s got to be ruthless to your point and I think it does,” the US veteran continued.

Since the US-hosted 2026 World Cup is looming over, Pochettino is unsurprisingly under immense pressure. Besides, being a non-American coach adds to the intensity surrounding the role. Apart from Lalas, certain other US veterans are also concerned about the myriad of challenges the Argentine boss has to navigate in the US camp.

Mauricio Pochettino urged avoiding his predecessor’s mistakes and mirror USWNT boss!

Former USMNT goalie, Tim Howard, was quite disappointed to recall the last time a non-American coach led the USMNT. He said Jurgen Klinsmann’s era from 2011 to 2016 was a disaster for the USMNT. Howard stressed that the German coach prioritized cultural enhancement and strict rules over soccer.

Howard wants Mauricio Pochettino to differ from Klinsmann and to try to understand the American player instead of making it about oneself and their philosophy.

Meanwhile, thanks to USWNT coach Emma Hayes’s Olympic gold medal win, ex-US star Carli Lloyd wants Pochettino to imitate her management style. Apart from all this, Pochettino has pressure to prove himself in international football, as he prematurely terminated his Chelsea role for this switch.

Well, coach Emma Hayes rebuilt the USWNT after its disastrous 2023 World Cup run. So it is not beyond this former Chelsea boss to help the USMNT rise from the ashes of the Copa America crash out.