As USMNT embarks on a new path with the highly successful Mauricio Pochettino in charge, expectations are high. But amid this excitement, one of the defining men of the side has placed the reminder that all responsibility does not lie at the feet of Pochettino. The players must themselves rise and share some responsibility for the fortunes of the team.

Robinson stated that all of the players in the squad must contribute to the team’s success. “I think it will suit a lot of the players on our team,” Robinson said of Pochettino’s arrival. “And, regardless, just having a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective—I think every now and then, it gets to a point where a team does need that.”

Pochettino is a top-level coach, but Robinson also claimed the differences between working with a national team and working with a club team. “He’s not going to see us every day. He’s not got a lot of time to drill into us how he wants to play. But that’s where we’ve got to step up and take responsibility and say it’s not all just on him,” Robinson stated. 

Players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, who have been the faces of the USMNT for a very long time, need to step forward at this moment. Pulisic’s play at AC Milan has been unquestionably superb, and he is widely regarded as one of the U.S.’s top talents. But as Robinson noted, it’s about much more than individual talent.

What’s next for Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT?

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup has begun, especially because the U.S. will co-host it. With Pochettino as a sage guide, the USMNT is in a strong position to seize the home advantage. But for such an advantage to be achieved, they need their top players to lead from the front. 

It is the collective responsibility of individuals, and that’s the sense that Robinson brings into play by demanding group responsibility. Pochettino can come in, introduce new tactics, and take the team to cloud nine, but for those tactics to execute and to see results, it would depend on how the players will internalize and execute them. He said, “We need to give him as much attention and commitment as possible and make it work between us.”

Robinson’s words of warning are the reality check that even great managers need players. If anything, Pochettino will have to rely on his best player to do their job.

While the appointment of Pochettino is a step in the right direction, it’s on the players to get across the finish. They are going to have to lead the teams on and off the ground so that Pochettino’s ideas translate to wins.