United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino explained what he meant when he recently discussed that he is “missing” the Premier League.
Pochettino spent the bulk of his managerial career in the Premier League before being named the USMNT’s head coach in September 2024. He specifically made a name for himself with Tottenham, where he spent five years between 2014 and 2019, leading the club to a Champions League final appearance.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world,” Pochettino told the BBC. “Of course I am missing it. I am so happy in America, but also thinking one day to come back to the Premier League. It’s the most competitive league.”
Pochettino was asked about those comments while speaking with reporters on Thursday following the release of the Americans’ 25-player roster for two upcoming 2026 World Cup tune-up matches against Paraguay on Nov. 15 in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Uruguay on Nov. 18 in Tampa.
“For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world,” Pochettino repeated. “I was involved for 12 years in different clubs like Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea. And it’s normal to miss the good times when you spent very good times in someplace.
“Maybe if you ask me in five years, or maybe I extend the contract [with U.S. Soccer] for one more 4 years within the USA, after which after seven years or six years I transfer [to another job] they usually ask me, ‘Oh, how do you are feeling about whenever you had been supervisor of the nationwide crew of USA?’ [I’d say], ‘Yeah, I miss it as a result of I spent an excellent time right here.’ And whenever you spend good time [somewhere] you miss that good time.”
Mauricio Pochettino on variations between teaching a nationwide crew vs. teaching within the Premier League
Pochettino lamented that one of many difficult elements about being a world boss vs. a membership coach is the shortage of contact with gamers. His Tottenham crew was very shut, and he’s nonetheless getting used to the truth that with the USMNT, the depth is inherently totally different as a result of he isn’t with the gamers’ day in and day trip.
“We’re going to be spending 10 days in Philadelphia and Tampa after which till March, you can’t be collectively,” Pochettino added. “Sure, you’ll be able to have contact by cellphone, [text] message or go go to, but it surely’s by no means the identical as if you find yourself working [every day] and that’s what you miss probably the most.
“In the best way that we work and the best way we prefer to work, how we construct our relationship with the participant, it’s actually essential to have contact each day. However on the identical time, we’re studying to construct and develop {our relationships} otherwise. It’s by no means the best world, however we are going to attempt to evolve as a training employees and consider a special technique to supply the participant the likelihood to be current even when [there is] distance, they usually’re in a special setting.”
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA Right this moment and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Lady,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at @LakenLitman.
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