Let’s go back in time when the USMNT was in the middle of its hunt for a new manager. While the names of a few interesting candidates were on the table, star player Tyler Adams wanted someone who would be “ruthless” with the team—Mauricio Pochettino, who, within just a couple of months, compelled Adams to say, ‘he means business.’

Since taking charge in October, the Argentinian tactician seems to have adjusted quite well to live the American dream. Then again, a few, including Adams, were already confident before Poch’s arrival that how well of a hire he is for the Stars and Stripes. “The name speaks for itself; the resume speaks for itself,” began the Bournemouth midfielder during his exclusive chat on the Men in Blazers podcast.

“He’s had so much success with so many different types of players and so many different types of teams,” remarked the 25-year-old about Pochettino, who, aside from managing clubs like Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, has also worked with revered names including Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and more.

Adams specifically mentioned the 52-year-old manager’s time at Southampton was even though more of a developmental project, Mauricio was still able to make waves at the Saints, which ‘speaks volumes.’ Additionally, the former Leeds midfielder also recalled Poch’s Spurs days, where he managed to lead the team to possibilities that no one would have ‘expected.’ Be it losing out the 2016 Premier League title race to Leicester City or making the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, these little accomplishments with Spurs were something that Tyler really appreciated.

“As you look at his resume, you know he means business,” concluded the Cherries star. Of course, such an admission only signifies that the Bournemouth star’s demands have been met—Pochettino seems to be the manager that Tyler and his other teammates thought they wanted. Then again, while the new US Men’s National Team is doing its job just fine, it’s natural he’d look for the same from his players; no wonder Mauricio had recently urged Adams to remain ‘consistent’.

Mauricio Pochettino wants to see the ‘progression’ of Tyler Adams

Tyler Adams was left out of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the recent CONCACAF Nations League semifinal doubleheader against Jamaica. This decision was particularly surprising given that Adams had fully recovered from his injury and had already made a club appearance. While Pochettino’s choice to exclude him was a difficult one, it doesn’t take away from the high regard he holds for Adams. “I consider him a very important player for the future of this team,” he said earlier.

“But the most important thing now is to see the progression. For us, we were so happy to see his evolution, but at the same time, we know very well that we need to look after him if we want to have him in the best condition for the 2026 [World Cup],” added the 52-year-old tactician. Additionally, Pochettino emphasized that the best path forward for Adams is to focus on “training properly and see if he can be consistent in his club.” 

Now that the US Soccer kept their promise of bringing his ideal coach, Tyler Adams should keep his to Mauricio Pochettino!