U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Brenden Aaronson expressed the team’s commitment to making their country proud amid recent criticism of their performance as they approach the World Cup.
In the lead-up to coach Mauricio Pochettino’s roster announcement for the tournament, the USMNT faced significant setbacks with heavy losses to Belgium and Portugal in recent friendly matches.
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Although Aaronson did not play in the match against Belgium, he participated for the last 12 minutes against Portugal, stressing that the disappointing results do not reflect a lack of effort from the team.
“It’s frustrating because there’s a perception that we don’t care, but that’s not the case. We care deeply,” Aaronson told ESPN’s Julien Laurens on Tuesday. “Losing games like that is tough. I felt that we played well against Belgium for most of the match.”
As the U.S. prepares to co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, they will begin their World Cup journey against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12. Before that, they have two final warm-up matches: against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6.
“During this camp, I noticed everyone was extremely focused. We have a great group of guys dedicated to making our country proud,” Aaronson added. “Now we have two more matches before the World Cup to prepare and the coach is providing us with the right guidance.”
“Ultimately, it is up to us to deliver our best performance, and I believe everyone is ready to give it their all.”
Following Paraguay, the U.S. will also face Australia and Türkiye in the group stage, with the top two teams advancing alongside the eight best third-place teams.
Last year, Pochettino’s squad played these three teams in friendlies, securing victories over Paraguay and Australia but losing to Türkiye.
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“In our last two matches against Belgium and Portugal, we certainly wished for better results, but they are both among the top teams globally, and it’s a challenging task. I know we can improve, and we’re gearing up for three demanding group-stage matches with tough competition,” Aaronson commented.
“We need to be prepared, and I believe we are. Having faced most of these teams before, we are ready to give everything we have and aim to advance beyond the round of 16.”
However, Aaronson remains focused on finishing the season strong with Leeds United.
The team is currently positioned 15th in the Premier League, six points clear of the relegation zone, with six matches left in the season. They also have an FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on April 26.
Aaronson, a former player for Philadelphia Union, is eager for a successful conclusion to what he describes as “definitely my best season to date.”
“For us, the primary goal is staying in the Premier League and achieving a great season, which I believe we are doing. We find ourselves in a strong position, and reaching the FA Cup semifinals would be the icing on the cake,” he stated. “While we are taking it one game at a time, the upcoming match will be monumental for our club and team.”