The US national men’s team won their final group stage game against Haiti by a 2-1 score. This result finalizes the teams three first matches in the tournament and concludes the already mentioned group stage. On to the quarterfinals of the competition and their manager Mauricio Pochettino can feel relieved after a couple of bad results against Turkey and Switzerland before the Gold Cup.
The USMNT should look forward to future challenges in the tournament, but they certainly should take a close look to the actions involving their win against Haiti. Even though they came on top in the clash, the haitians put up a big fight, complicating the US‘s functioning in offensive and defensive phases of the game. Pochettino, happy as he can be with the victory, noted that this needs to be a match to learn and be better in next games.
Pochettino is happy but not comfortable
This was the pivotal message during Mauricio Pochettino‘s press conference post game, feeling good about the win, but looking for the next challenge to correct mistakes and mishaps. “I think we should’ve scored more. I think, we scored, and then an accident (happened), we conceded a goal. I think that created a little bit of doubts in us“, expressed the USMNT manager acknowledging the match his team played.
“It was tough to deal with that, but I think overall the performance was good. The second half was a little bit better, my feeling now is that the second half was better than the first. I think control was a massive challenge for us because (Haiti) is a very good team. They play direct (attacking) and they have players with a very good phisicality;they are strong and that was a very good challenge for us to learn and improve“, added Pochettino recognizing the level their rivals demostrated.
Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT advance in the Gold Cup
Next round, next rival, next challenges within the team, that is what the US squad is looking forward to. Like mentioned before, Pochettino can take a breath after two complicated losses before the competition. Today, even though the level of rivals is lower, he can say he won the Group they were on and the feeling around the camp is on a more positive note.
“I think we’re all happy from the first day. Of course it was a tough moment with the two defeats against Turkey and Switzerland, but it was part of the process and the preparation. It is a new team that need to spend time together. Today, that time together paid off. For the self, I’m so happy and certainly for the players” declared the argentinian manager.
Group D and next rival
1. USA | 9 pts. | +7 dif.
2. Saudi Arabia | 4 pts. | 0 dif.
3. Trinidad & Tobago | 2 pts. | -5 dif.
4. Haiti | 1 pt. | -2 dif.
Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT will face Costa Rica next Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup.
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