April 24 – In an interview with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) website, current United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) coach Mauricio Pochettino criticised his players’ mentality, prompting former USMNT coach Bruce Arena to respond with what could generously be called “constructive feedback”.
Arena, who guided the US to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002, shared his thoughts on the ‘Unfiltered Soccer’ podcast with all the subtlety of a brick through a jewelers window.
“You know if you look at every national team in the world, the coach is usually a domestic coach,” Arena stated, apparently unaware of the numerous successful foreign coaches leading national teams worldwide.
“And I think when you have coaches that don’t know our culture, our environment, our players, it’s hard. I’m sure our coach is a very good coach, but coaching international football is different than club football, it’s a completely different job.”
“And I think when you’re a national team coach, you need to know your environment, you need to know the animals you coach, and we’re lacking that. If you’re an American coaching the US team, you know the culture, you know the pride and how important the national team is. I think when you bring in somebody from the outside, they don’t understand it, especially in our country, because we’re so different.”
With the USMNT struggling to find its identity after a disastrous Concacaf Nations League performance, Pochettino, who earns a reported $6 million a year, has been under intense pressure, with his non-American status becoming convenient ammunition for critics.
Arena seems particularly irritated after Pochettino dared to suggest American players should actually try hard when representing their country.
“It’s not just about showing up in your home country and trying to play nice soccer. No, you must be proud, you must fight for the people that would love to be in your position, for the millions of kids that are going to see us and dream to be one day where we are.”
There’s a certain déjà vu happening here, as former USMNT boss, German Jürgen Klinsmann, was also critical of players’ mentality during his five years in charge – another foreigner failing to appreciate that American players need special handling, apparently.
While Arena is the most successful domestic coach in U.S. Soccer history, he conveniently glosses over his own spectacular failures as the top man in Germany 2006, and in 2018 when the USMNT failed to qualify for the World Cup altogether. What was missing then wasn’t specified, however, he was very clear about what was missing in the Nations League.
“You ask me if we lacked pride, I’m watching and I’m shocked. I’m shocked that we can’t beat Panama and Canada,” Arena added, momentarily forgetting about the Trinidad and Tobago debacle in 2018 World Cup qualifying. “It was shocking to me.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful. I want them to do great in the World Cup, there’s no question about it. But we only have a year left now. Time is running out, and they got to get going.”
Arena, who currently coaches the San Jose Earthquakes could be saying the same thing about his team who sit in 10th place in the Western Conference and out of the early play-off picture.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1745563007labto1745563007ofdlr1745563007owedi1745563007sni@o1745563007fni1745563007