The Mauricio Pochettino era is well and truly underway with players looking to start fresh. However, one position that comes into notice is the last man of defense. Gone are those days when Tim Howard and Brad Friedel saved the day for the USMNT. This position remains a pressure-situation for most parties and, if you don’t get it right, everything goes into the drain.

For some years, Matt Turner led the team from the back. But after leaving Arsenal, joining Nottingham Forest and finally landing as a backup keeper at Crystal Palace, Turner’s career keeps spiraling downwards. And the recent press conference of Mauricio Pochettino wouldn’t do him any favors.

The manager wants his players to have ‘minutes’ to join the team. He mentioned, “A manager is always worried when their players have few minutes with their clubs. I believe it’s a handicap that needs to be corrected.” Think about it.

If you don’t have minutes, you don’t get the match experience to play. It adversely affects your match fitness and sharpness when you are called upon. Goalkeeping is a position where they play in moments. One loss of concentration spells trouble. That’s the end. Therefore, Turner now plays as a second keeper to Dean Henderson, who looks set to keep his place.

With the World Cup coming in three years, Pochettino wants a goalkeeper to stay strong and make crucial saves. Whatever he does and will do will be based on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino wants minutes from his goalkeepers

Mauricio Pochettino continued, “I believe having a World Cup in less than two years, we and the people around them have to advise them in the best way possible so they can have a year leading up to the World Cup where they have the chance to compete more.”

When you look at the current pool of international goalkeepers, there are some talented ones. Patrick Schulte of the Columbus Crew and Zack Steffen of the Colorado Rapids remain Mauricio Pochettino’s two favorite choices. Especially Steffan, who played under Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. That’s some experience you can’t disregard.

Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath are second goalkeepers and will need to play more minutes to have a chance. Players like Turner would need to leave the club to rack in the game time. But there is one more player he would like to keep his eyes on.

Notably, Gabriel Slonina is one of the top young keepers in world soccer. Now 20, he will be 22 when the World Cup happens and dubbed as the next ‘Thibaut Courtois’, he can nail his position as the number 1. Mauricio Pochettino’s preference for youngsters would motivate him to perform better.

Yes, there are options for Mauricio Pochettino. But who do you think he will prefer?