Along with the first U.S. team, Pochettino plays it safe

Mauricio Pochettino selected a safe group of players for his first U.S. men’s national team practice on Wednesday. He kept a lot of known faces for two friendlies in October but made it clear that anyone can join.

Pochettino, who took over as coach of the national team last month, chose a 25-person roster that includes 19 players who were at the 2024 Copa America, where the U.S. was humiliated to lose early on home land and Gregg Berhalter was fired.

“We want to feel their commitment, their personality, their character, and their ability to adapt to a new era, a new way to play the games,” the Argentine told reporters on a conference call.

“And I think that is going to be the key, the capacity for them think in the collective, to think and to give everything to try to be better like a national team.”

There are some familiar faces on the team, like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah. Pulisic has had a great start to the season with AC Milan.

After one season in charge of Premier League team Chelsea, Pochettino left in May. He also said that the lineup could change a lot in the future because he is keeping a close eye on a number of players who are not in the October camp.

“We were thinking a little bit in some players, I’m not going to give the names because it wouldn’t be fair,” added Pochettino.

“But yes, we are starting to follow some very good players that I think have the potential and maybe are not now in the roster but for sure they are going to be in the roster in the future.”

The goalie Zack Steffen, who was dropped by Berhalter and was last called up by Pochettino in March 2023, is a big addition to his team.

Steffen has been having a great season with MLS team Colorado Rapids after living in Europe for a few years. He will be trying to get his first cap since March 2022, when he qualified for the World Cup.

“We have an excellent professional working, following and analyzing all the players … and I think Steffen we know him, and I think he deserved an opportunity to be with us,” stated Pochettino.

After playing Panama in Austin, Texas, on October 12, the US will play Mexico in Guadalajara three days later.