Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure with the United States Men’s National Team began with a satisfying 2-0 win over Panama in the friendly on Saturday, but not everyone is sold that the new man brought something revolutionary to the table. Across the sideline, Panama manager Thomas Christiansen watched his team fall on two second-half strikes, and he thought the reality was that Pochettino was not much different from Gregg Berhalter’s system.

“I didn’t feel there were too, too many changes from previous U.S. squads,” Christiansen said to the press after the match. For him, it was business as usual, despite the change at the helm. It is a feeling that won’t be ignored. Mauricio Pochettino was hired to unlock this team’s full potential. The goal is an ambitious push at the 2026 World Cup, held in their home country.

But is Christiansen right? Is this still the same USMNT under a different face, or did we see subtle changes that may point to Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term impact? 

Since day one, Pochettino has always directed the team to grow not only as individuals but also as a group instead of plotting to achieve that win that could be garnered at the moment. That is what could make the USMNT go beyond ever-reached heights.

Mauricio Pochettino’s confidence and tactical tweaks

But while the squad may look familiar on paper, the approach wasn’t exactly the same. Mauricio Pochettino showed an ability to adapt his tactics to suit individual players. Yunus Musah is one such case, the young midfielder who has found it tough to get consistent minutes this season at his club AC Milan. On Wednesday, though, the youngster was played out on the right wing instead of his more central role, and in that free space, he seemed to channel his creativity into causing one goal, which he scored early into the second half.

By playing Musah out wide, Pochettino relieved him of some of the defensive responsibility that can weigh on central midfielders. It was a switch that allowed Musah to mainly rely on his attacking instincts, something that clearly chimes with the 21-year-old. “It’s fantastic for him, fantastic for the team,” Pochettino said after the match. “Now maybe he will start to perform and behave a different way, full of confidence.”

It’s how Pochettino manages players that makes him stand out. He helps them reach their full potential. This is very different from Berhalter’s more rigid system. Mauricio Pochettino puts players in positions where they are most comfortable. This may mean moving them into roles they don’t normally play for their clubs.

One game into his tenure, it’s clear that Mauricio Pochettino already has work going on in preparation for the future. However, Christiansen’s assertions that the U.S. side is really not as different after all are not entirely off base. For one, this is a work in progress. Probably, the biggest test for Pochettino would have been when he had more time to impress his philosophy when key player McKennie returned from injury.

There are two years until the next World Cup. It’s too early to see everything in detail. But one thing is clear now: Mauricio Pochettino is here to help his team reach their goals. Saturday’s win is just the start.