HOUSTON — United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stated his group wants the “strain” and “stress” of Sunday’s Gold Cup ultimate towards Mexico as a way to put together for subsequent summer time’s World Cup.
As a co-host of the competitors, alongside Mexico and Canada, the U.S. doesn’t must qualify for the 2026 World Cup, that means after Sunday it won’t have any aggressive video games earlier than kicking off subsequent summer time.
“I believe it’ll be perhaps the final sport that we’re going to play underneath strain and to play underneath strain is what we’d like, the group wants, as a result of we already certified for the World Cup,” Pochettino instructed reporters on Saturday.
“I believe it is necessary that we have now that troublesome situation to really feel the strain, to really feel the stress.”
In what is predicted to be a majority Mexico crowd at NRG Stadium, Pochettino embraced the problem of making an attempt to win the USMNT’s eighth Gold Cup title. Sunday’s assembly will even be the eighth at a Gold Cup ultimate between the rival nations, with Mexico searching for a record-extending tenth title.
Pochettino famous that reaching this level was the purpose for the summer time with an alternate squad lacking a lot of key gamers, together with Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson, though they’re nonetheless aiming for extra.
“To reach within the ultimate of the Gold Cup was the target. That was our first step and now our second step, third step, is to win,” stated the Argentine coach.
Throughout the group’s final coaching session on Saturday earlier than the sport, Pochettino gathered his gamers and workers as he gave a message to the huddled group in Houston.
“He stated one thing about his desires final night time and about his dream for tomorrow,” midfielder Malik Tillman instructed media of what Pochettino shared.
“I imply, we’re a detailed group. We have been now collectively for, he stated, I believe 40 days. So clearly the sport means lots to us tomorrow.
“Clearly [the dream] it was about successful and lifting the trophy. So if we consider in that, I believe we have now a great probability to do that tomorrow.”
Mexico’s ‘s Javier Aguirre is in his third spell in cost and beforehand lifted the Gold Cup in 2009. Pochettino, in the meantime, is searching for his first piece of silverware with the USMNT.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.