United States Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino issued an apology on Tuesday for his outburst following a 3-2 group stage defeat to Turkey, as the team gears up for a crucial World Cup Round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Pochettino's Apology to Reporters
The Argentine manager began his Tuesday press conference by apologizing to reporters over his reaction to a question regarding momentum after the Turkey loss. At the time, Pochettino had blasted the questions as "weird" and accused the American journalist of acting like the USA had already been eliminated from the tournament.
"I was frustrated and disappointed. It was my problem, not your problem. I was upset after the defeat, and I'm sorry," Pochettino said, according to the original report.
Context of the Turkey Defeat
The match against Turkey was largely inconsequential for both nations. The USMNT had already clinched Group D and secured their place in the Round of 32 beforehand, thanks to victories over Paraguay and Australia. Turkey, meanwhile, had already been eliminated from knockout contention before the match.
Consequently, Pochettino made nine alterations to his starting XI. The team appeared destined for a 2-2 draw until deep into stoppage time, when Kaan Ayhan scored the winner for Turkey. This led some to question whether the defeat would damage the squad's belief going into the knockout stage, where they aim to claim their first World Cup knockout victory since 2002.
Pochettino's Mindset for the Knockout Stage
Looking ahead to Wednesday's fixture, Pochettino emphasized the importance of treating it as a final. "For us it's the final of the World Cup tomorrow. If we don't think in this way we are going to struggle," he stated.
Pochettino also referenced both Germany and the Netherlands' surprise eliminations on Monday, noting that no game is easy for anyone. "We saw yesterday that no game is easy for anyone. It's all in. If we go through, then it's another final," he said.
Emotional Control and Favorites
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager observed that, in his view, there are no such things as favorites, highlighting not only Germany's loss to Paraguay but also Brazil's slender victory against Japan.
One pitfall the USMNT could succumb to is the emotion of the moment, something Pochettino is keenly aware of. "A game like tomorrow is 85 percent, maybe 90 percent emotional," he explained. "If we can reduce that to 70, 60, 50, in order to play, and wait to put in the emotional side at the end, I think it's much better. But it's difficult to reduce for both teams."
He added, "In soccer, unpredictable things can happen, but we're trying to reduce that. To play free, and enjoy it. As Jorge Valdano said to me, 'Relaxation brings concentration.'"
