Pochettino Linked to Manchester United Amid Ongoing U.S. Team Preparations
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Players and officials associated with the U.S. men’s national soccer team (USMNT) are accustomed to hearing speculation about their renowned coach, Mauricio Pochettino, being linked to prominent club positions in Europe.
Since joining the U.S. team two years ago, Pochettino’s name has emerged in discussions about high-profile openings, including those at Tottenham Hotspur in 2025, AC Milan this year, and various other teams overseas. Such rumors are commonplace in the world of soccer, where clubs frequently change coaches in response to performance pressures.
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Currently, in light of Manchester United’s poor start to the season, Pochettino is reportedly being considered as a potential replacement for the struggling coach Michael Carrick, who faces mounting pressure as the team remains in the relegation zone. United, a prestigious name in sports, appears to have turned its focus toward Pochettino, who previously found success at Tottenham and Chelsea, in addition to his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain.
Neither Pochettino nor the U.S. Soccer Federation has publicly commented on the reports from ESPN.
As the U.S. delegation continues its training at the national center near Atlanta, they are preparing for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti, with the first leg set for Saturday in Miami, followed by the second leg next Tuesday in Cincinnati.
Mauricio Pochettino is once again being linked to a high-profile European club job, but the USMNT coach remains focused on the task at hand as his team prepares to face Haiti.
(Omar Vega via Getty Images)
Prior to Tuesday’s practice, veteran left back Antonee Robinson and 17-year-old forward Cavan Sullivan addressed the situation surrounding the Pochettino rumors.
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Robinson, who plays for Fulham in the Premier League, stated, “That news kind of got sprung on us like the rest of the world.” He likened the situation to previous instances when high-profile managers were sought by major teams after the World Cup. He expressed gratitude for working with a manager linked to such prestigious roles, asserting that it doesn’t affect their focus on preparations.
He referred to the report as “outside noise,” emphasizing Pochettino’s commitment to maximizing the team’s potential.
Pochettino, 54, re-signed with the U.S. team following this summer’s World Cup, with a contract in place through the 2030 tournament. Should another club wish to hire him, they would need to pay a multimillion-dollar buyout to the U.S. Soccer Federation.
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Although the timing for a coaching change is rarely ideal, the start of a World Cup cycle often presents the best opportunity for a new coach to build relationships and establish strategies. However, changing a coach close to a World Cup can present serious challenges. The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) experienced such a setback following Jurgen Klinsmann’s unsuccessful second term that led to Bruce Arena needing to salvage things in less than a year, which ultimately resulted in the U.S. missing the 2018 World Cup.
Pochettino’s predecessor, Gregg Berhalter, also exited after underwhelming results in the 2024 Copa America. Pochettino had about a year to cultivate a new culture and identify player talent before the recent World Cup held in the U.S., where the team advanced from the group stage but was eliminated in the Round of 16.
The USSF hopes that under Pochettino’s guidance, the team can achieve a breakthrough at the upcoming 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted across three continents. His focus on integrating young talents like Sullivan is laying the foundation for future success.
Despite the ongoing speculation regarding Manchester United, Robinson maintains that it hasn’t distracted the team.
“As soccer players, we are pretty used to sort of fast-changing environments and games coming pretty fast,” he said. “So we’re all very good at just focusing on the next task at hand, whether that’s the next session or the next game coming up. I don’t really look at … ‘Oh, this could be the last time he’s in front of me.’ It’s just focusing on we’ve got a game on the weekend.”
Sullivan, 17, praised Pochettino for his supportive approach, having invited the young forward to his first senior camp for four friendlies. He made history as the youngest goal scorer in the program.
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“He’s taken me under his wing in the most tremendous way possible,” Sullivan remarked, noting that Pochettino encouraged him to play confidently while upholding high standards for the entire team.
