Mauricio Pochettino
Appearances
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And even if I want Christian here or another player here, you know, or Anthony or like this. And I think no one or another teammate is going to think badly about if I am saying that because I think also the team may respect Christian and Anthony like another player. But the thing is, sometimes you need to put
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
the interest in a maybe medium long term than in the present because for me after the the march camp i say okay i don't care about nothing i want to win tomorrow and i win to win that is the consequence after you know because i think we are all preparing the focus on the world cup and sometimes we need to to be open and flexible in some decision when we talk about this type of decision
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
For us, I think it was a tough decision because I think we agreed, no? Because also it was our idea, it was our decision on the end, you know? Because on the end, if you say you need to come, but I think we cannot force the player to come. But I think I need to be fair and say it was a collective decision, you know, to try to find the best for the national team and for the best for the player.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
People think that we don't have time because we start in October. In reality, we have two camps to be together and now was a great opportunity. And sometimes we were talking about to change this cultural mentality when people talk about that. When the players think that, OK, if in the past we were not involved, it's because the World Cup is not important. That is why it's so careful
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
How we send the message and how they get the message, not the player. And some say, no, you rest because the World Cup we are going to have this list. A list is not going to be here. It's the B and the C and that's it. It's not a criticism to former people, but it's a different way for us in our ideas and in our philosophy. And that doesn't mean that we have more or less knowledge about the game.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Well, I think the first is the federation and all the staff and the people that is involved in PREPARE. I've been the host of the World Cup in Guarneri and I think we tried to translate that passion and the excitement about to to be part and to be involved, you know, in the World Cup in one year.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
about the game, about soccer, about football. That is in the way that you want to approach because I think I know very well and we know very well the psychology of the mindset of the player. And sometimes the player, they assume that that is normal. I am so happy. I'm so excited of the group that we are going to have.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And of course, waiting for the future that all the players will be available to have the possibility to select the best player for the World Cup. knowing that I think we need to be better, compete better, and improve in all the areas that I think we need to improve.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think we need to win. We need to win because I feel so bad, so shit. That is the world when we lose against Panama. And then the second game was okay, how it was, no? But in the same time, in the parallel way, I think it's a great opportunity for too many players to show we are here and we want to fight for a place in the World Cup with the national team and say,
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I can perform in Philadelphia, I can perform in Vancouver, I can perform in Columbus, but also I can perform in the national team and I can perform with the big size. And I think if the player came now with this mentality to say, we are not here for holidays, We are here to try to show the coach that we are here because we care and we want to win and we want to compete in our best.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think it's going to be a very exciting moment to see them and then to compete to win the World Cup.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I was talking about an example like Matt Turner. I think after a long period that he didn't play, we were talking about the necessity to play. Because we cannot give all the tools in a few days, preparing him to compete. In the competition,
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
that the competition provides some, you know, capacity, knowing only your confidence, you know, in your timings and everything that, you know, that are important. Not only we train session, okay, if you don't play and come here to train session, we have the... the secret, the magic touch that you can play if you don't compete during a long period.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And I think the good thing that he was conscious about that and I think another player that we were talking about maybe not play too much with the possibility to move and to find a place that can compete even if it's maybe lower level, but... thinking always in the benefit for the national team.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Yes, that is a thing that we are talking and we are very open and we don't know, we don't have fears to talk with the player in this type of subject that is sometimes painful because you need to tell some player Look, you need to play.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And then all the people also that is helping us around, telling you like building the new training ground, too many people that is doing an amazing effort, you know, in an economic but also in time. to help in the Federation to create something, some legacy for the future, not only for now, for the present, if not for the future.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
At the moment, okay, so far, all is good because I think we are checking your character, your personality, your capacity to be a leader, the leadership that you have. But at some point, to be a leader, you need to compete to have the right to express your talent and to talk with your teammates. That, I think, is really important for us. That is why I think
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
was time in the last few months and now is a time also to talk with the players still that are in this situation to try to help or to advise in the best way.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think now is the moment to show, because in the end it's a fight between them, to show showed that I am the number one. It's true that they're disappointed because sometimes the player suffers an injury and we cannot give the opportunity, you know, like Patrick Schulte. For me, it's a signal that it's going to be very natural, the selection.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Because it's about that, for sure, that is going to be good, the two friendly games and the World Cup, because I think we have the opportunity to see different, you know, opportunity, different keeper. But I think I am not worried about that because, like you say, we have quality. Also, in behind we have, you know, another keeper that can perform.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think for the circumstance that when we arrive to October, I think the picture changes. No in the international team and I think in the way that we like, you know to translate the message and the way that we are open and to give the opportunity to all the player to step up and show they the character because
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
we don't want to assume that because four years ago someone was captain, some player was captain, now should be the captain, because the circumstances have changed, and things were changing in years. I think we are very open and we are giving the opportunity to the group and the players that are involved in this type of group to say, oh, come on, Show me. Show me? Yeah, yeah.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Because I don't want to say, no, because you were the captain, now you are the captain. For me, it's a little bit a process, a natural process that we are feeling, you know, the player. Because sometimes some players can surprise you, you know, and can step up and say, oh, That is the leader.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think the country in behind is what we are feeling, that is in behind, also the fans is in behind. They are so excited that the World Cup arrives. At the same time, it's true that we are building something. And always, when you are building something, there are ups and downs in this period. It's true that we are a little bit disappointed.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
But if you don't give the opportunity and you create the platform for them to appear, it's difficult because, yes, we can go with the normal names. They say, OK, this guy plays here. OK, he's the captain. And then I think the most important thing is to see in a spontaneous way
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
who step up when the scene are wrong, when the stress is there, when the pressure is there, you know, who step up and say, hey, I am here.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
It's not surprised me. It's like after... many years working with players, you smell that can happen something. And when Diego, in the game in Orlando, received an elbow in his... I saw he was like this. Blood.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
No, the doctor said to me, but he said, coach, I want to play. That's what you want. Because I said, yeah, but it's a friendly game. I said, Diego, it's a friendly game. You're announced. I didn't want to worry him, but I was like, scary nobody when it was like this, but it was amazing. And he convinced the doctor, doctor, I can play. If you allow me to play, I want to play. Coach, I want to play.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And then in the half time, we'll see. And then go, fight, crash with one guy after, and then take the ball, assist. That is what I want.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
It's not the, oh, ciao. Ciao, no? That is what I want. That is the mentality. That is that you feel that the player play for nothing more than the... The pride to be a player, to defend the share.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I was like this. I played because of that. Not because of my quality.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
No, the three were really tough. Because I grew up in Argentina, River Boca for me was massive.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Yeah, but that game is crazy. It's crazy. And then because they divide a country. yeah because in argentina happened that you are you have one team and then boca river you know that is the difference with another maybe country in argentina is like a is dividing me to do Divide the country and River and Boca. And then you have another club. That is an amazing thing, if you think about it.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
We were very excited after January, not because of the two races against Venezuela or Costa Rica, but it was about how the players showed, the teams showed. that aggressivity that we want to translate. And then, with all the circumstances in March, I think the circumstances didn't help us to show that.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And then I support more River or I support Boca. It's like crazy because they are so big, these two.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Yeah, and then I grew up there, and that's why for me it was an impact for me.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Is it simple? It's an emotional answer for me. Maradona was my hero. And it's difficult for Messi to fight with my hero, no? To put Messi in a position of mine. But I think both are amazing. Yeah. But Maradona is because of emotion. Because when I was a kid, I grew up watching Maradona. And that emotion that you build inside yourself, that is for the rest of your life.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
But Messi, what we can say about Messi.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Maybe I am wrong, but for me, you are... in the top five, sure, or top ten in the history, you know? In America. For sure. Top one. Top ten. No, but I think you were great players. And I think if you were born here or there, I think you'd play for sure in the national team. I think so. For sure. This is what I saw under my judgment. It's not because you are here.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
But I think a few months ago they asked me about, you know, the player, USA player, to pick my best player. And I include you. Thank you. Thank you. No, but it's not because now we are here and I come to be nice. Because you were good. And then you were tough. And the type of player I think, always I said to, in England, some players said, Adam Lallana. Adam Lallana.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
When we arrived to Southampton, yes. And then he moved to Liverpool. I said, you can be an Argentine or a Spanish player. If you were rather to be born here, you were born in Spain, you play with Messi, with Iniesta, with Xavi, you can fit to play. And that is the case of you, you know, for sure you,
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think we are a little bit pessimistic about that, but I think that only needs to be a thing that can help us to improve and to realize that we need to be much better, we need to perform much better, we need to be more professional, we need to care more. Our national team needs to be the priority, talking I think in too many points that we need to talk and I think to improve.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
If you say Messi, of course.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
After him? No, Neymar, Mbappé, Harry Kane, Son. But also, all we say include... Two players, Moussa Dembele, midfielder, Belgium, that played in Tottenham.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And Ivan de la Peña. Because we can just say, I don't know, you talk about talented players, like Okocha, I played with Okocha, or Ronaldinho. But these two guys, for me, they had the talent, amazing talent in the same level that the players that we are talking about. People say to me, wow, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
De la Peña and Ivan de la Peña, I don't know if you remember the Buddha, the petit Buddha, they say, because it's amazing. And then Musa de Bel-Air, the What a talented player. It's amazing, no? Yes, but the rest, of course, it's easy to say.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Your legacy is there. We are going to arrive in a very good, you know, shape to the World Cup, ready to compete and to, I think, to maybe enjoy the fans and to the fans to feel proud and, you know, defend in the best way our country.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think sometimes when you win, you win, you win. I think always you want to win. But sometimes in some defeat, I think can help you to see the reality and to say, if we want to be competitive and arrive in a good form in the World Cup, I think we need to change a little bit the... the approach that we are having with the team, the national team.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And I think that was a knock on the door to say, pay attention, that we need to change. Because if not, I think that is not the way that we need to compete.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
No, I think it's going to be, I feel the responsibility and we all feel the responsibility. I think we try to translate not all the whole stuff. I think the responsibility. In the same time, knowing that it's soccer or football,
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
It's about to enjoy, it's about to not to put too much pressure on the player because the player need to perform and more freedom and if they are happy and they can express their talent. But I think, yes, of course, it's a massive pressure because I think the mentality and the culture of this country is about to win. If we analyze, not only in the sport, OK, maybe we can go, no?
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
In the Olympic Games, USA always is, if not the first, is the second first. But it's the first, always is the best. Financial side, politics, and everything is, I think, the side of this country, I think, put you in a position that you need to deliver your shop. you need to show that you are brave, that you are a winner. But not talking like I am talking now, because it's easy to talk, no?
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
But the most important is going to show, and show on the pitch when you need to defend your flag there, fighting and being a team. That is a moment to say, hey, yes, we have quality. I am good player. But now it's about to defend your country. And I think when the athletes in different sport or Olympic games, I think you can show that. I think in soccer, I think we need to reduce this gap.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And I think we need to really believe that it's possible. But at the same time, we need to be able to to do the effort. Because that is the most important thing. Because sometimes we can say, yes, I want to do the effort, but after you need to show that you want to do the effort. And that is a problem sometimes that the confusion is, I am professional, I care, I am commitment.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Yeah, but who set the line of the commitment, effort? That is the important thing, because maybe for me, big commitment in this line is good. But it's not enough to compete with another country or with another player. Being professional, what does it mean? That is important. Under our experience, we are here not to change the culture. Because your culture is amazing.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
The most important is to try to be here and to build some themes, some ideas, some philosophy to say, yes, that is a way to compete. and too much than other big countries. Because I think that is the culture of the country. That is why I'm not angry when the people say, oh, we need to change the culture. What means to change the culture? It's not to eat burger? No, no.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And I think we are all different. It's like I go to England and say, no, we need to change the culture. Oh, you need to change the culture. No, you need to adapt to the culture of the country, knowing the people, knowing the player. Of course, that generation is changing. Football is evolving. You know, we cannot compare maybe when we were a player that now in the current time.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
But I think always adapting, but with the... respecting the culture, and then giving your best to compete. It's so simple, but really difficult to translate afterwards to the pitch.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Always, I am really honest. I'm seeing your podcast always because when I have time, I can, of course. Thank you. You don't have time. No, but yes, always I find time, you know. And I think it's important to understand that soccer here is, I think we have good example to follow. I've seen the women's team, four-time winners of the World Cup.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
The mentality and the belief, I talk a lot about with Emma. We have good example there. How we are seen as the player or the soccer here is that it's improving a lot. When people say, no, but the MLS, or you say, no, but we have the best player in the world playing here, Messi. And Messi, when he plays football, it's difficult for him. Because I think it's very competitive, the MLS now.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think sometimes people underestimate MLS but I think the players and now that we are involved in the last year watching a lot of football and seeing all the coaches here and the preparation and the capacity and the quality I think we cannot talk easy about you know to say oof but I think
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
is about also to reduce this gap that I think we need to be honest and say that when you think in USA, you think about athletes in Olympic games, basketball, NFL, hockey. baseball, and then soccer. It's difficult to fight with this idea. What we need to do is to provide all the tools to our players to help them to perform better.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Today we have plenty of players playing abroad, you know, in the USA. But the most important thing is the culture I think that we saw in you that to be desperate to come and be the priority, the national team. And maybe that gap was about to grow, maybe not thinking in this way. And that is a responsibility of us that the people need to prioritize the national team.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
We were talking about Argentine player or Brazilian player or English player or Spanish player. They are desperate. Even Messi, even Neymar, even Mbappé for France. These guys are desperate to go to the national team. And for them, when they go, they don't see if it's a friendly game, it's an official game, it's a World Cup, it doesn't matter. Because the possibility to defend one time
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
one time more, your flag, your shirt, it's about to feel proud about that. And that is the responsibility to us to translate. I was talking before with the manager here at the hotel, because he said, what I can do to translate to the player when I write this passion, because I see in the way that you were talking with me, you motivate me. You inspired me.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Yes, exactly. No, very proud. And that's it. That is what we need, is to feel proud, to feel the passion, to be desperate to play, to put the ego, when you arrive to the national team, outside.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I think that is the most important thing. I think that is our responsibility.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
When things happen, I try always to not to blame the players. I think because even when we don't play well, I think we blame ourselves to say we didn't give all the tools or maybe we were not we were not clear or our tactics or gameplay wasn't good or our method wasn't great or I think we made a mistake because rather to train in the morning we train in the afternoon.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
No, yes, I think we try to blame ourselves and I think to arrive In one year time, and the player to feel in the way that we want it that they can feel, or I think the possibility that they can feel in this way, it's our responsibility. And it's up to us, because it's in the way that we are going to coach, in the way that we are going to communicate, in the way...
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I don't want to use teach because I think teach is a massive word not to teach but I think through our examples you know to try to for them to realize because they are so intelligent and what happened in the past and why we arrive in this moment in this in this type of situation is not to blame the players because I think we need to evolve and that is our also our moment for
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Thank you so much for me. I think it's a great honor to be with you. Two legends. Thank you. Amazing. And I think it's a fantastic opportunity to talk about football. And always it's a pleasure to talk with you both.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
with all the coaching staff you know in the world is to evolve with the new generation of our kids yeah you know our and that is so important i think they are intelligent enough to realize but sometimes they need to make the mistake they need to make the mistake to say oh i was wrong sometimes you can tell you can tell you can tell i say oh like with your kids always happen no when in our career we say oh this coach was was uh right yes but i i thought i was wrong in this moment yeah
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And we try to accelerate this process to say, oh, realize before we leave the... No, you. Because maybe five years after, you say, oh, he was right. But the opportunity, we missed the opportunity to perform. We missed the opportunity to make history. And I think we are in a moment now to...
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
Make history and to try late different feelings and emotion to the to the people and also to help the new generation That came the kid that came You know that they are growing now and seeing us like idols. I seen Grow in a different way for sure, but in an hour, you know this in the our mindset. No, I
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
First of all, I think Christian in the last year, I think was showing a great quality and he's performing, you know, in Europe and also he's performing here in the national team. He's a very talented player that can help us to win. Of course, of course. And you say people compare Messi with Christian Pulisic.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
I don't want to be disrespectful with Messi or with Pulisic or Pulisic or with Messi, but I think... In this country, Pulisic should be our man. And because he's an iconic player and the kid on the street, for sure, if you ask one soccer player in this country, it's Pulisic. When you talk about if I feel disappointed or not, I think we have very good communication with our players.
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
The Mauricio Pochettino Interview
And Christian is a very nice guy and he's very committed with the national team and he wants to help. And of course, he's desperate to play the World Cup and arrive in the best condition. In all these conversations that we were taking with the players, I think that was the best decision to help him because every player is in different circumstances.