The eyes of the soccer world will be on Austin Saturday night.
New U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino makes his highly anticipated debut at Q2 Stadium where the team faces Panama in an exhibition — or “friendly” for soccer purists.
The most high-profile hiring in USMNT history, Pochettino enters the international game for the first time after a successful 15-year club coaching career, which includes stints leading powerhouses such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.
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With another friendly Tuesday vs. Mexico being the only other chance for him and the players to gel before CONCACAF Nations League play begins in November, Pochettino noted that winning isn’t the most important thing for the team in his time together with it.
“It’s about getting to know each other and sitting in the way we want to work,” Pochettino said Friday in front of an overflowing press room at Austin FC’s training facility. “Of course we want to win. … But our players need to adapt to our ideas. They’re going to need time to adapt to us, and we can’t push them too much.”
A rash of USMNT regulars are injured and not in town, so Pochettino’s lineup Saturday could be vastly different from the one he fields in November. But the country’s biggest name will be available.
Forward and captain Christian Pulisic, who is having his best year as a pro in his second year with AC Milan, has trained all week and should play, though he may not be on the field very long.
“He’s playing every minute (at AC Milan), so we need to be careful. He arrived a little tired,” said Pochettino, who gave Pulisic notable praise. “He’s one of the best offensive players in the world.”
Pochettino, who is Argentinean and as a player suited up for clubs in Argentina, Spain and France — including Paris Saint-Germain, has the reputation for running physically demanding practices, which is something that didn’t appear to change in his first USMNT camp.
“The trainings have been longer and intense. … But that’s been good to figure out (the new coaching staff’s playing) style,” Pulisic said. “They’re trying to get a lot of information across. And the main thing is to get to know each other and be confident moving forward.”
Traditionally, Pochettino prefers an aggressive style that presses, plays out of the back to open up the field and values possession of the ball. He said he’d like to bring that to the USMNT and wants “to provide the offensive players the ability to move forward.” However, he said he’ll adapt to what works best for the players.
“I don’t want to (get fired); I want to live,” he quipped to a round of laughs. “We’ll find the best way to compete. … In the medium to long term, I think we can create a strong side.”
Austin becoming a constant host of international games
This is the first of two games featuring the national teams that will be played at Q2 Stadium over the next 12 days.
The U.S. women’s national team hosts Iceland on Oct. 24 in another friendly.
These are the seventh and eighth contests the national teams have played in Austin since Q2 opened in 2021 — they’re 6-0 and have yet to allow a goal — but it’s not the stadium alone that attracts the teams here.
“The training center is a critical component,” Austin FC president Andy Loughnane said. “They spend a few days here and will want fields that replicate what the match field is. Our dining and weight room facilities also provide the right atmosphere for them.”
U.S. Soccer chief commercial officer David Wright noted that it’s not a bidding process that the club and city goes through to get games, but that U.S. Soccer determines where the games are held based on numerous factors.
“There’s a lot of thought that goes into the selection process,” Wright said. “Time zone and broadcast zones really matter, and obviously October in Austin is pretty favorable weather-wise. … We take a lot of pride of playing in a lot of different markets. Austin is an incredible soccer market. The fan base there is very sophisticated and incredibly passionate.”
Prior connections from Austin FC’s top brass have helped the city land games, though.
Former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter coached Columbus when Austin FC owner Anthony Precourt ran that club last decade.
“Our club and the national team have a strong relationship,” Loughnane noted.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Mauricio Pochettino to make U.S. men’s national team debut Saturday in Austin
