USMNT legend Landon Donovan is quite optimistic about Mauricio Pochettino’s imminent arrival to the USMNT head coach’s seat. However, according to Donovan, the US men’s team’s problems are beyond Pochettino’s reach to fix. The former LA Galaxy star says there’s little the MLS and the USMNT’s senior side could do to fix the men’s soccer conundrum in America. The San Diego Wave coach holds the USA’s youth soccer system for the USMNT’s weak presence in global soccer, compared to European teams.

Former US defender Alexi Lalas and striker Landon Donovan recently sat down to discuss USMNT’s prospects under potential boss Pochettino. Minutes into the conversation, Lalas asked Donovan what changes he envisions in the USMNT to ensure a successful future. Without hesitating, the Wave coach stressed, youth soccer is the problem.

“Look, my kids are in youth soccer and I see the youth soccer environment. It’s a disaster, it is, it’s an absolute disaster,” Donovan said during his recent appearance on the State of the Union podcast.

The LA Galaxy veteran added that youth soccer players in the US are not getting better at the pace they should be progressing. He also doubted if any of the US-based youngsters would make the roster of a European side, like France or Spain. After Donovan lamented that many youth soccer systems in the US are “wasteful,” Lalas asked him why he was so critical of the grassroots programs in the US.

That’s when the 42-year-old gave a reality about American culture which is detrimental to kids who aspire for a soccer career.

Landon Donovan details a US cultural problem while lambasting youth coaches

Landon Donovan proudly approved the American way of being eager to win everything and be the best in any field. But he thinks this philosophy has a snowball’s chance in hell, to resonate with the 6-year-old boys’ soccer games. He then revealed a story of shockingly watching a youth coach who was obsessed with winning.

“There’s coaches that I hear say, ‘This coach we’re coaching against next week is my arch nemesis. We have to win this game.’ And he’s coaching seven-year-olds. I’m thinking what the hell is wrong with you,” said Donovan during the same podcast.

Thereafter, the Wave boss detailed how many kids are denied a chance because coaches prioritize tournament wins over the betterment of each player. “‘This tournament is really important to our club. We have to win.’ So of the 10 players, five of you might not play as much because we have to win this tournament at 7 years old. It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” he added.

Do you agree with Landon Donovan’s statements, considering the US-hosted men’s World Cup has knocked on the USMNT’s door? Tell us in the comments below.