In a recent interview, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino, answered some MLS and USMNT fan’s worries about domestic talents being denied opportunities on the national team.
Mauricio Pochettino made his evaluation process clear on how he values a player’s club team stating, “I don’t think that to be an elite player you have to be in Europe. We also have to consider that in other countries, in other leagues, you can also be an elite player competing in different places.”
Many see Europe as the gold standard for player value for various reasons, but it’s important to recognize that some talented players don’t make it there due to factors like visa restrictions or, as in FC Cincinnati’s Lucho Acosta’s case, “bad timing.” Additionally, European teams often overlook certain players due to age or late development, which can hurt their resale value. These factors leave some excellent players outside Europe, even though they may still have the skills and experience to succeed on the international stage.
He continued by saying, “We are seeing today that great players like Messi are competing in the MLS and for us I think that is something important to convey, that the MLS is a competitive league and that also competing in the MLS you can also be in the United States national team, competing in the best way and competing for great things. I think that we also have to believe in that, that the players who are competing in the MLS will also have the opportunity to be able to demonstrate their talent in the national team.“
For many this is an immediate shift in U.S. soccer that gives new life to our domestic players and what opportunities they may have available to them. Equally, it may motivate current USMNT players in Europe to find better form or an opportunities that allows them to see the field: “There are many players who are in Europe and who don’t play much and who don’t compete. And there are other players who are in the MLS or in different leagues that compete. And perhaps those players are in better shape to perform than players who perhaps don’t compete weekly.“
From these responses it is clear that the new US Men’s National Team coach values competition and players that are willing to create that environment no matter where they play.
T.T. DesRois
FBD | Editor
