Pochettino glad to get a reaction after US end losing streak in style
June 16 (Reuters) - United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of Trinidad and Tobago in their Gold Cup opener would do his squad the world of good after they came in for some stinging criticism during a four-match losing run.
The U.S., who will co-host next year's World Cup with Canada and Mexico, had come under pressure after a humiliating 4-0 defeat by Switzerland in a friendly last week but found form in California to go top of Group D.
The U.S. were without some of their top players, including Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, who have decided to skip the tournament, with the high-profile absences prompting criticism from former U.S. stalwarts Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas.
Pochettino said it was important to start the Gold Cup with a "good feeling".
"Today's game was also a difficult one, especially because of the negative things that happened in recent weeks," he was quoted as saying by ESPN.
"Some results that haven't gone well always generate a bit of noise. It's important for the players to have that confidence."
With the World Cup on the horizon, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino said the Gold Cup would be a chance for players to stake their claim for a place in the squad next year.
"We want to win, but at the same time it's to help the players to perform and to knock (on) the door and say, we can perform for the national team and we can be involved in the next World Cup," he added.
"That is what I expect. Win, and the player really believes that they are having the opportunity...(to) fight for a place in the World Cup."
The U.S. top Group D ahead of Saudi Arabia, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago. They next face the Saudis, who beat Haiti 1-0 in their opener, in Texas on Thursday.
The Gold Cup runs until July 6.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
44 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Pick a winner with your Daily Record this Royal Ascot
12 page pullouts packed with runners, riders and insight every day of the festival from your trusted pundits Royal Ascot is one of the major highlights of the racing calendar, as well as being a huge social occasion graced by members of the Royal family, celebrities and fashionistas and your Daily Record will be providing unmissable coverage throughout the week with 12 page pullouts every day of the festival from Tuesday until Saturday, plus great reader offers every day. This year the event celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Royal procession, a tradition begun by King George IV in 1825 which has continued to present day with the royal party and guests arriving by carriage up the racecourse from Windsor Castle. Over the course of five unmissable days, Ascot will host seven races each day comprising at least one Group 1 highlight for total prize-money of £10 million. The two richest races are the Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday, both worth £1m. The Gold Cup, worth £600,000 is Royal Ascot 's oldest surviving race and the highlight of Thursday, celebrated as Ladies' Day, which often attracts the largest attendance of the week. The increasingly international fixture will again attract runners from Australia, the United States, Japan as well as from across Europe. Asfoora, the Australian sprinter who captured the King Charles III Stakes a year ago, has returned to defend her crown. Elsewhere Aidan O'Brien, fresh from winning his 11th Derby, is expected to dominate a meeting at which he has been the leading trainer 13 times, and in each of the last three years. Likewise his jockey Ryan Moore will seek his fourth leading rider title in a row to add to his total of 11 successes. Don't miss your Daily Record from Tuesday June 17 until Saturday June 21 for incredible 12 page pullouts and great reader offers inside your paper every day of this iconic festival.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Paige Spiranac leaps to Rory McIlroy's defense amid criticism over US Open media snub
Social-media influencer Paige Spiranac has leapt to the defense of Rory McIlroy amid criticism he skipped media sessions during the US Open this weekend at Oakmont. McIlroy skipped interviews after his rounds on Thursday and Friday and when he faced reporters on Saturday, said he was frustrated by them during a tense five-minute back-and-forth. He added that he felt he can do 'whatever I want' when it comes to media commitments. McIlroy finished the tournament in a tie for 19th place at 7-over-par with an impressive -3 under final round. The Northern Irishman is one of the most popular golfers in the world and his every move is under a magnifying glass - especially since winning the Masters earlier this year to complete the Grand Slam. Spiranac has came to his defense, making sure those in the golf world are not too quick to attack one another. 'Might be an unpopular opinion here but he doesn't have to talk to the media if he doesn't want to. It's not required,' Spiranac said on social media. 'And why would he when everyone is always analyzing and criticizing his every move.' 'There is clearly something more going on none of us are privy to, so maybe let's not all pile on.' McIlroy on Saturday was also quick to point out previously he skipped out on the first round of media availability after the first round of The Masters. The 36-year-old also did not speak with the media after every round of last month's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he finished in a tie for 47th place. Earlier this month, McIlroy hit out at the leaks surrounding his driver debacle at the PGA Championship last month, admitting he was 'p***** off' about being publicly singled out for failing an equipment check. 'I was a little p***** off because I knew that Scottie's (Scheffler) driver had failed on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked. It was supposed to stay confidential,' he said. 'Two members of the media were the ones that leaked it. Again, I didn't want to get up there and say something that I regretted, either, because there's a lot of people that I'm trying to protect. 'Scottie - I don't want to mention his name. I'm also trying to protect TaylorMade. I'm trying to protect the USGA, PGA of America, myself. I just didn't want to get up there and say something that I regretted at the time. 'With Scottie's stuff, that's not my information to share. I knew that that had happened, but that's not on me to share that, and I felt that process is supposed to be kept confidential, and it wasn't for whatever reason. That's why I was pretty annoyed at that.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC predictions: Club World Cup tips and odds
Our expert has three times for Monday's Club World Cup Group D match between Chelsea and Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (kick-off, 8pm BST). We think there could be plenty of shots on target between the Premier League side and the MLS outfit. Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC tips Odds courtesy of Sky Bet Correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a Sky Bet member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Open game should lead to goals Enzo Maresca has used 39 players in the past season at Chelsea, so it is anyone's guess how they will line up in their Club World Cup opener against Los Angeles FC, but the Blues should get over the line. The Conference League winners finished the season with eight wins from their last nine matches and should be a cut above LAFC, who are fifth, with catching up to do, in the MLS Western Conference. The MLS outfit have conceded an average of 2.25 goals per game away from home in the league this year, so this could be a high-scoring one, but they carry a threat in Denis Bouanga – top scorer in the MLS in 2023 – and Chelsea to win and both teams to score appeals at 13/8. Shots market worth targeting There have already been a couple of goalless draws at this year's Club World Cup but this should be an entertaining contest and 11+ match shots on target is worth backing at 10/11. LAFC's last two MLS fixtures against Sporting Kansas City and Montreal produced a total of 26 shots on target, while only Liverpool (6.1) averaged more shots on target per game than Chelsea (5.7) in last season's Premier League. In the Conference League, meanwhile, Chelsea's shots-on-target average rose to 7.92 per game and both goalkeepers could be busy in Atlanta. Palencia could have work cut out Sergi Palencia is a mainstay in the LAFC defence and he is overpriced at 6/5 to commit 2+ fouls. The Spanish right-back offers plenty to the LAFC attack but has committed at least two fouls in each of his previous six MLS assignments, registering 14 fouls in his team's last four fixtures. Overall in MLS this year he is averaging 1.9 fouls per game and he will be kept busy by the overlapping runs of Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella, so he could be on the radar of match referee Jesus Valenzuela Saez. Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC odds All odds courtesy of Sky Bet. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
