Mauricio Pochettino has been accused of misleading US soccer fans after his team reached the bottom spot in the Concacaf Nations League finals.
Pochettino`s team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Canada in the third-place match held in Los Angeles. In the final, Mexico defeated Panama and won the trophy.
This second consecutive loss within four days has intensified the pressure on the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager. Fans at the So-Fi Stadium questioned the dedication of the team.
Pochettino attempted to minimize the importance of the defeat, which followed a surprising loss to Panama on Thursday.
He stated, “It’s better to lose now because I think we have time. If we find ourselves in this situation a year from now, for sure, I will tell you, `Houston, we have a problem. SOS`.”
US legend Landon Donovan was among those criticizing the team, which included former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic.
Donovan commented, “I’m tired of hearing about how ‘talented’ this group of players is and all the prestigious clubs they represent. If you`re not going to commit and genuinely care about playing for your national team, then decline the invitation. Talent is valuable, but pride is more so.”
Former Bolton and USA midfielder Stuart Holden added, “Pochettino is misleading us.
“US Soccer has created this situation by aiming for a high-profile appointment, and for Pochettino, nothing is crucial until the World Cup. However, this is an absolute low point. Can you imagine the reaction if Greg Berhalter were still the coach?
“He would have been fired immediately. He wouldn`t have even left the stadium. It couldn`t have gone worse for Pochettino and the team. There are concerns across every position on the field.”
Pochettino urged the upset fans to remain calm, although he admitted that too many of his players had been playing on “automatic pilot”.
He said, ”This is the lowest point, but we can improve. I would tell the fans, don’t be pessimistic or negative. We have time, and it’s better this happens now rather than in a year.
“Naturally, we are all disappointed, and the fans have a right to feel that way. But I won`t allow us to become pessimistic because I believe we have quality players.
“We will find a way to perform and will definitely compete differently. We need these experiences to positively impact us.”
But former US star Alexei Lalas responded, “I’m trying to avoid becoming indifferent, but this was not only an uninspiring performance, it was also dull. It was a complete failure, a disaster. Many people are questioning whether these players care, and performances like this do nothing to dismiss those doubts.“
