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Ryan Tolmich

'We have to take a big step up' - Christian Pulisic, Matt Turner and USMNT players react to Mauricio Pochettino hire

After a frustrating 1-1 draw with New Zealand, members of the U.S. team reflected on Tuesday's big news

All week long, the U.S. men's national team's players danced around the subject. They had no doubt been instructed to do so. The deal to sign Mauricio Pochettino had yet to be finalized and there were still hurdles to clear. He wasn't officially the coach yet.

That all changed on Tuesday night shortly before kickoff, when U.S. Soccer confirmed that the Argentinian manager had officially signed on. A month-long wait is now over. Pochettino has arrived.

The players, of course, found that news out on Tuesday as well. They were briefed on the upcoming announcement, having spent the last few weeks like the rest of the world: watching and waiting. They were also free to talk about Pochettino's hiring and what it means for the team.

Largely, there was a message of excitement. The slate is clean and chances will be there. Everything is about to change.

There was also a message about that change, with many, including the team's biggest star, calling it necessary. Pochettino has his work cut out for him, particularly after two rough September performances. The USMNT's players know that things will be different from this point forward, and that's a good thing.

Here's what the USMNT had to say about Pochettino's hiring after Tuesday night's draw with New Zealand:

  • Pulisic USMNT 2024Getty

    Christian Pulisic - 'We need that winning mentality'

    "He's hopefully someone that's going to come in and really change the culture around here," Pulisic said. "It's time. We have to take a big step up. I think we have the quality, and now it's time to compete and try to win. That's the next thing.

    "I mean just that winning mentality just in every moment on the field. We obviously were missing it again today. Just something is missing. I can't exactly explain it to you, I wish I could, but, just that winning mentality. His teams are known for that."

    He continued: "Speaking with some of the guys at Chelsea, they really enjoyed playing under him as well. To be honest, I've only heard good things, and I'm not just saying that, so I'm looking forward to it."

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  • Ricardo Pepi USMNT 2024Getty Images

    Ricardo Pepi - 'Great for those that live and breathe Latino culture'

    "I think it's great, of course," Pepi said when asked what it will be like having Pochettino as the USMNT's first Spanish-speaking head coach. "We have some players who speak Spanish, of course, players like me. Just in terms of culture, it's going to be great for the team and for the people living and breathing the Latino culture. It's going to be, it's going to be a gain, for sure.

    He added: "I'm just ready, of course. I'm a learner and I'm ready to learn. Whatever the team needs from me, then I'm going be able to do it."

  • McKenzie USMNT 2023Getty

    Mark McKenzie - 'There are no guarantees'

    "It's a new chapter," McKenzie told GOAL, "and that's the biggest thing: everybody's got to make sure that we make the most of the opportunities because there are no guarantees. He's stepping in and has the opportunity to assess the game, assess the team, and figure out ways he wants to implement his style.

    "Most importantly for me, it's about making the most of each opportunity I get, performing on a week-to-week basis with my club team. I think that's the foundation that'll carry the confidence into the national team. If I get the opportunity to come into October camp, it'll only be off of a good string of performances with Toulouse. I'll be coming into camp with the mentality of competing."

  • Fossey USMNT 2024Getty

    Marlon Fossey - 'He's hard on his players'

    "I was at Fulham during my younger years, so I heard a lot of stories about him, about how he likes fitness a lot," Fossey said. "But I think, yeah, it'll be different for us to have a coach of that caliber, a coach of that experience. These are exciting times.

    "He's very hard on the players. He likes the fitness element, but also, I've heard that he's a very good man-manager, very good from a player-to-player perspective. It should be fun."

    "I think every time I step out there, I try and make a good account of myself," Fossey added, "because as the saying goes, you never know who's watching. I don't think I upped the intensity. I just played my game, because I treat every game like anyone could be watching."

  • Morris USMNT 2024Getty

    Aidan Morris - 'I try to be a sponge'

    "It makes my job easy, man," Morris said of playing under Wilfried Nancy, Michael Carrick and, soon, Pochettino. "Working with Wilfried, and I'm just getting started with Michael, but it makes my job easy. Every time I get the ball, I know where I need to go before I get it. Both of them forced me to grow and put me in situations where I'm oftentimes uncomfortable, but, after the next game, I'm more comfortable in that position. I'm grateful and blessed to have been around those two great minds and just try to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can."

  • Matt Turner USMNT 2024 Copa AmericaGetty

    Matt Turner - 'Steady the ship'

    "If you just look at the last two games anyway, just a little bit of a lack of that killer instinct," Turner said. "With the 50-50 balls in the first game, I thought tonight was great. I thought we really brought some intensity tonight, which we lacked in the Canada game. It was too little, too late kind of, because at the end of the day, we didn't have that killer instinct in the final third [against New Zealand]. Something was missing, something was lacking. We couldn't really put the game to bed in the moments where we had it, and then there's just a freak, freak goal.

    "That sort of sums up where the program is at right now. So yeah, steady the ship. Get to know the players in the first two windows, then have a chance to win a trophy in March and then have a really good Gold Cup. I think it's just direction, making sure that guys bring that intensity and energy every time we step onto the field, and that nobody takes their opportunities for granted."