-
Jeff Carlisle
TAMPA – United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed immense admiration for his mentor, Uruguay’s coach Marcelo Bielsa, urging his players to be prepared for a tough match against his former boss’s team.
The two coaches will meet at Raymond James Stadium on Tuesday for a friendly encounter between the U.S. and Uruguay. Their relationship began when Pochettino was just a teenager, as Bielsa, then a reserve team coach, lured him to join Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys with an early-morning visit to his home.
Bielsa later managed Pochettino at Newell’s, as well as during their time at La Liga’s Espanyol and with the Argentina national team.
“My admiration and respect for him are significant,” Pochettino remarked at the prematch press conference. “I can’t regard him as just a friend or a regular person. My respect is greater than that. I speak to him as someone I admire, as a hero. He’s someone you wait for to acknowledge before you say hello.”
This will be the first encounter since Uruguay’s narrow 1-0 victory over the U.S. in the 2024 Copa América group stage, which saw the Americans eliminated from the tournament. Uruguay’s aggressive style of play ultimately overpowered the U.S. team in that match.
Pochettino anticipates a similar challenge from La Celeste, who finished fourth in South America’s World Cup qualifiers.
“Playing against Bielsa is an experience to relish, but we will certainly suffer during the match because his teams are always difficult to face,” Pochettino acknowledged.
Recently, the U.S. has embraced a more physical approach, particularly during their 2-1 win over Paraguay last Saturday. A notable moment in that match was when U.S. defender Alex Freeman found himself in a confrontation over a throw-in with Paraguay’s Gustavo Gómez, leading to a bench-clearing altercation. Pochettino recognized the potential dangers but appreciated the unity shown by his players in defending one another.
“We take pride in how we conducted ourselves during that match,” Pochettino stated. “It showed character that Alex was defending our interests after the referee ruled in our favor. It’s crucial that we stand up for ourselves when faced with aggression from opponents. It was a proud moment for us, and while such situations can be risky, it’s important to defend our position.”
Pochettino is also pleased with the team’s evolving identity on the field.
“I see our identity forming through the way we build from the back, respecting tactical principles in our game,” he noted. “We are improving how we utilize space and transition to assert dominance in the opponent’s half.”
The upcoming match against Uruguay marks the end of the U.S. team’s 2025 fixtures. Pochettino’s squad is set to play two friendlies in March—possibly against Portugal and Belgium—and two additional matches in late May or early June, ahead of hosting the World Cup next summer alongside Canada and Mexico.