After the U.S. Men’s National Team had lost 2-0 to Mexico, everyone began pointing fingers at Mauricio Pochettino. He was the one who had excluded the star player Christian Pulisic from the team, and no one knew why. Fans and analysts saw this match as crucial. The defeat raised concerns about the team’s direction.

In his post-match interview, Pochettino stayed optimistic and focused on long-term goals. However, frustration among fans and the media was clear. The Mexico game had been considered the big test for USMNT’s improvement under Mauricio Pochettino. Though the team played pretty well against Panama in the previous game, Mexico was indeed a much more serious test, one which would tell if the squad could play at the highest level or not.

This decision has faced widespread criticism for being disrespectful to the rivalry, known for its intense competition. Fans demand full commitment when playing Mexico, and the 2-0 loss has only increased their anger.

Despite the criticism, Mauricio Pochettino remained calm after the match. He defended his choice to rotate players and offered a broader view. The Argentine coach stressed the importance of managing player fatigue and injuries. He said that some players were unavailable during the international break. Pulisic, dealing with minor injuries and fatigue, was rested. Pochettino deemed this decision vital for the team’s long-term goals.

“We are happy with the effort and application of the players,” Pochettino said. “Some players needed rest, and we had to give other players the opportunity to prove themselves. This was a massive effort, and with the circumstances we faced, we’re positive about the performance, even though we lost.”

Christian Pulisic is the face of U.S. soccer, and his absence was acutely felt against Mexico. There was not one fan or analyst who was able to make sense of the fact that Pulisic had been sent for load management in such a crucial game. Was the gamble to send him enough so he could recover for subsequent games really worth it? The creativity, speed, and leadership he possesses on this young team have been too important and influential in getting the country to where it is now, and without him, on that night, their attack simply wasn’t sharp enough nor dynamic enough to break Mexico down.

Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term vision for USMNT growth

Pochettino defended his team’s decision to switch things up, saying the team had to freshen up and avoid burnout as the campaign went on- “With all the players that were involved, some couldn’t play, and we had to rotate, this type of game is important for giving chances to other players, and while the result is not what we wanted, the focus is on improving with time.”

This defeat to Mexico is painful, especially due to the rivalry they had, but Pochettino has a clear image of the long-term growth of the USMNT. The coach made sure to point out that the team is still in its development stages. He believes that the United States will in due course be able to grow stronger, which would be necessary for being able to take on the top nations of the world.

“This is only one game,” Pochettino said. “Of course, we wanted to win, but with the circumstances, we remain positive. We need to play more games like this to improve in the way we compete.”

Fans and the wider public in the U.S. will just have to have faith in Pochettino’s process for now, no matter how enraging the immediate results may be. As we look toward this summer’s upcoming tournament, everything is going to come down to Pochettino. His tactical skill will be required for the USMNT to win against some very difficult opposition.