Gone are those days when the USMNT had it easy. A man of strict discipline and tactical nous arrives in Mauricio Pochettino. The men’s national soccer team must prepare themselves for the demanding work the Argentine coach will bring to the team. Moreover, the USMNT players face criticism for not playing to their standards in recent years. Coach Gregg Berhalter did not focus on discipline and several sketchy situations happened -the Gio Reyna incident springs to our minds.

Therefore, an ex-USMNT player, Marcelo Balboa, came forward to give his views regarding Pochettino’s appointment. He believes players have no room for a lackadaisical approach to the game and should be on their toes from Day 1. He stated how players like Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams must roll up their socks to embrace the tough life.

Marcelo Balboa explained, “I see relaxation in the current USMNT camp. [Mauricio] Pochettino isn’t worried about pissing off Tyler Adams or Weston McKennie. He’s going there to do his job. You’re gonna have to come in and work hard.”

When one looks at the USWNT, we know the men’s team needs to improve rapidly. It’s not rocket science. The success the USWNT brought to the country provided them with investments from various celebrities and athletes. The NWSL is one of the fastest growing leagues worldwide and the MLS looks subpar compared to other European Leagues. Significantly, the MLS can’t get traction even with Lionel Messi in the league!

Mauricio Pochettino would bring in solidarity and discipline!

The team had a forgetful World Cup in Qatar after the Gio Reyna-Gregg Berhalter incident stole the limelight. With Gio Reyna’s parents wanting better playing time for their kid, a series of distasteful incidents dampened the team’s progress. Hence, the camaraderie within the players was at an all-time low.

But now, a coach from Europe arrives at the Star and Stripes. Just like USMNT, Pochettino has a lot to prove. He took Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League but failed at the final hurdle. He took over PSG and ran the show with Kylian Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar at the helm. Despite the usual French league dominance, he once again failed at the last hurdle by not winning the Champions League.

The failed experiment at Chelsea became another talking point in his coaching career. Now, at USMNT, he has a lot to prove. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup happening in the United States of America, the home team would need to be disciplined and run to the ground. Usually, the host nations of each World Cup perform to entertain their fans.

Hopefully, USMNT can conjure up something. Pochettino needs players like Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie to perform at the highest level. Do you think he can do it?