USMNT star Weston McKennie hails Mauricio Pochettino for bringing back 'savageness & grittiness that the USA is always known for'

The USMNT enjoyed success at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by reaching the round of 16, but their fortunes took a downturn when they failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2024 Copa America. This setback prompted U.S. Soccer to sack Gregg Berhalter and appoint Pochettino in September 2024, with the aim of instilling a new culture within the squad to set the stage for a strong performance at the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico.

Pochettino’s tenure has begun on a positive note, with the USMNT securing victories in three of his first four matches as manager. This strong start has built optimism among fans and players alike, and McKennie has highlighted how the Argentine’s approach has helped reintroduce a competitive edge that had been missing from recent squads, despite the success of a number of American players at club level.

In an interview withCBS Sports, McKennie said of Pochettino's impact: "I think honestly, [he] put the, kind of, savageness back into the team, that South American feeling, which is obviously going into tackles hard, not caring who you're playing against, maybe a little bit of dirtiness, I guess you could say, without contradicting the sport itself, but a little bit of dirtiness in the game and that grittiness that the USA is always known for."

The USMNT will regroup in January for a training camp, during which they will play two friendly matches. The first is scheduled for January 18 against Venezuela, followed by a match against Costa Rica on January 22. These games represent the final opportunities for the team to fine-tune their strategies before competing in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League in March 2025.