Mauricio Pochettino has delivered a strong message regarding player commitment after teenage defender Noahkai Banks opted to represent Germany over the United States. The USMNT boss praised the 19-year-old's honesty but insisted he only wants players desperate to wear the badge.
Mauricio Pochettino and the United States men's national team have suffered a major blow after highly-rated defender Noahkai Banks committed his international future to Germany. The 19-year-old Augsburg centre-back, who previously represented the USMNT at youth level, will now file a one-time switch with FIFA to represent his mother's homeland.
Mauricio Pochettino says that the U.S. men's national team will have to deal with Noahkai Banks' decision to represent Germany, but the head coach is ultimately accepting of the teenage defender's choice. That's because Pochettino wants to focus his USMNT around players with '200 percent commitment', not players who are questioning whether or not the USMNT is the right choice for them.
The USMNT could use Noahkai Banks. Germany offer no easy route to the top. But the defender's decision deserves more than a search for someone to blame.
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Sarcelles AAS
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