4 minutes. That’s how long Brenden Aaronson played for USMNT in the recent 2024 Copa America. He came on as a substitute during injury time. The rest of the matches, you ask? Forget a start—Gregg Berhalter didn’t even bother to bring the Leeds United star on as a substitute. While one may question the lack of minutes for the talented midfielder, Aaronson is in luck, as new head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be there to ‘try to help‘ him rediscover his lost mojo.

Having announced the USMNT roster for his debut matches against Panama followed by Mexico, the Argentinian tactician was generous enough to call up Brenden. Now, ahead of these October friendlies, Poch is ready to give special attention to the 23-year-old. “I know when he arrived to Leeds, and of course the impact was amazing,” began Mauricio in an interview via Jonathan Tannenwald.

“We’ll see the way that he’s going to evolve with us. When you watch, you feel something, but then when you create a relationship and you start to work with them, you start to feel if it is exactly what you thought before, or if it’s completely different when you met and you know the player,” continued Pochettino, while praising Aaronson’s versatility to play in different positions, be it the right or the left, No. 8, 10.

“He looks very professional, his standards are very high, he’s a player that always gives the best to the team,” added the former Tottenham boss, while highlighting the former Union Berlin star’s other qualities like ‘excellent‘ work ethic, ability to score and run behind the defensive lines, break the half-spaces while providing all kinds of alternatives to the game. However, this is what Poch believes it’s time to put a full stop at.

The new USMNT boss rather wants Aaronson to choose a specific position and master it like no other. “He’s young, and it’s true that he’s playing in too many different positions. And maybe now it’s time for him to find his best position. To say ‘That is my best position, I’m going to perform here.’ We need to help him to discover where is his real position, and [where] he’s going to perform his best. And we are going to be there to try to help,” concluded Pochettino.

This is surely one of the best help that Aaronson can get from his new boss. In fact, things can pan out pretty well for the former Philadelphia Union Academy star if he also gives his 100% to Pochettino, a.k.a, the specialist in developing youngsters.

How can Mauricio Pochettino help Brendon Aaronson and other USMNT youngsters develop?

It’s not like Gregg Berhalter wasn’t in favor of giving chances to youngsters. Names like Gio Reyna, Florian Balugon, and Tim Weah are thankful to the former manager for putting faith in them. Yet, there remained a gap in bringing the best out of them, even if it came down as the player’s fault. However, in the case of Pochettino, he is expected to bridge this exact gap.

Beyond coaching star players like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane, the former Chelsea boss has also worked hard to bring the best out of many talented players like Cole Palmer for instance. The former Man City star had a remarkable season under Mauricio, something which Aaronson and other youngsters would be hoping to get at the national camp now.