U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said he supported U.S. players making a move in the January window ahead of this summer’s World Cup because it represents an ambition “to improve” and “grow.”
“I am a coach, a person, that I am very positive always in all the moves,” Pochettino said. “When you change it’s because you are convinced that you’re going to be in a better place than in the place that you are. That is why always I am very optimistic, I’m very positive in all the moves.”
Pochettino said defender Alex Freeman called him to seek his advice ahead of a transfer from MLS side Orlando City to Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga. Pochettino told him to do what the player felt was “the best option.” That advice would hold for forward Ricardo Pepi, who remains in the mix for a move from PSV to Fulham.
Ricardo Pepi’s injury has left his status for the next USMNT camp uncertain. (Omar Vega / Getty Images)
“It’s always being supportive and give the confidence that the decision they are going to make are the best decisions,” Pochettino said. “That is why I am not worried, I am not concerned about if some players are going to move in that transfer window. Because always what I expect is the best thing, and for sure, always, for me, it’s important that the player feels happy, feels comfortable. And not wanting to be in a comfortable zone.
“This type of thing happens because they want to improve, they want to grow. And I think it’s an amazing challenge that we need to support and help (them) to adapt in the best possible way and not to lose their focus … even to being focused on the World Cup and to have the possibility to fight for a place.”
Pochettino said he was unsure whether Pepi would be fit for the March camp as he comes back from a broken forearm.
“Of course he is a player that is in our radar,” Pochettino said. “We hope that he can be fit. And I think we have time to assess. And of course, we are going to make the best decision for him and for us.”
Pochettino said the national team continues to evaluate the availability of Tyler Adams (torn MCL), saying it’s a day-by-day process with still about a month and a half until the March window. The same goes for center back Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles).
Pochettino was also asked about the strong form of midfielder Weston McKennie, who was not called in for the U.S.’s November camp, instead being left at Juventus to build a relationship with a new coaching staff. That decision seems to have paid off, as McKennie has been one of the Italian side’s best performers this season.
Weston McKennie has been in sparking form for Juventus. (Christof Koepsel / Getty Images)
“It’s really good that he is playing in a regular way, being very consistent now in Juventus,” Pochettino said. “Yes, we are happy that our player performs and plays in a very consistent, very regular way. … Like I (have said) from the beginning, (the job is) to assess all the players that we already know, how to mix the 26 players, thinking, of course, always in the World Cup. And it’s a great opportunity in March. … The idea is that the World Cup will start in March, when we [are] all together, because it’s time to show like we were showing in the last camp in November or October, our identity, our way to play in the way that we want to perform in the World Cup.”
The U.S. will face Belgium and Portugal in friendlies on March 28 and March 31, respectively, in Atlanta.
Pochettino said he isn’t concerned that MLS-based players will be just a month into their season during March camp. Instead, he said he felt those players may have an advantage in that they will be coming from a good “level of energy” due to the lack of games and that they are “charging the batteries to be full to start to compete in the end of or middle of February,” and that it will give those players a chance to “show their quality.”