Pochettino becomes emotional at US Soccer farewell, calls Manchester United move ‘difficult to turn down’
Mauricio Pochettino broke down in tears on Friday during a news conference at US Soccer’s national training center as he confirmed he will leave the United States men’s national team to take the Manchester United job and described the choice as “one of the most difficult decisions of our careers.” He thanked US Soccer executives who stood beside him and spoke about remaining with the team through the immediate fixtures.
Pochettino, who had signed a deal to stay with the US through 2030, will continue to lead the USMNT for a pair of Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches before departing. He and US Soccer had touted an August contract renewal that expanded his role across the US men’s programme, but he said the United opportunity emerged quickly and forced difficult choices. He told reporters, “These moments are not easy decisions,” and sought to explain the speed and sensitivity of the negotiations.
The coach became tearful during his opening remarks as he thanked the federation for the chance to lead the US men and again showed emotion while addressing his impending move, which was announced hours earlier. “I think [the decision was],” Pochettino said, pausing, “one of the most difficult decisions of our careers. Thank you guys. Thank you so much.”
Pochettino outlined a swift timeline of contact between the parties, saying initial contact came on Sunday after he and his staff arrived the previous Friday. “We cannot underestimate the staff and the players. When things became big and big and big, the players are very sensitive and the staff are too – they start to feel things as well. [Everything] was so quick, because we arrived here last Friday and Sunday afternoon this situation started to appear and some contact. We were very transparent, we were talking with [US Soccer CEO] JT [Batson] and the federation.”
He said an agreement was reached that allowed him to remain with the US camp for the upcoming matches and that he informed players and staff once terms were positive. “[Thursday], when things were positive in the way the agreement was, we had a meeting and I communicated to the players and the whole staff. I want to say thank you because they were very supportive and they really understand the situation and they know us – how committed we are for the next two games. The decision between the federation and Manchester United, to agree that we’ll continue with our job in the camp; [nothing] can change our commitment and how important the next two games are.”
Pochettino acknowledged the rarity of the Manchester United opportunity and the difficulty of declining it, while reiterating his prior commitment to the federation. “They know that there are not too many opportunities that can happen in your career like [this one with Manchester United],” he said. “When they arrive, it’s difficult to turn down. But I want to make it clear, when we decided together to [stay another four years], it was always the commitment for the federation, too. Maybe the four games [in the September/October window] if we lose them, maybe you start to put pressure [on me]. And maybe something can be in a different way. “Or even in the future,” he continued, “Things can happen. The federation and maybe new people arrive or don’t, or maybe have different ideas and you say, ‘We are thinking in different directions’ and maybe they say ‘Mauricio, maybe you need to go home.’ We cannot think in these extremes – I think we were very committed and never thought this would happen so quickly.”
US Soccer CEO JT Batson and president Cindy Parlow Cone joined Pochettino at the news conference; Batson was asked about the approximately $10m (£7.5m) Manchester United paid out for Pochettino’s services and the subsidy of a significant portion of his $6m salary by donor Ken Griffin. Batson said the payout will be used by the nonprofit federation to support coaching hires and youth programmes: “The agreement with Manchester United, those funds – as you all know, US Soccer is a nonprofit and those funds are used to help us hire great coaches,” Batson said. “They help us do youth national team programs, coaching education … those funds are available for us to invest in order for us to make the biggest impact on our goals. Our supporters, our sponsors, our donors, are fans are very supportive around making sure that we have the resources that we need to achieve our goals, including having a world-class coach. We are appreciative of that support and look forward to our way of winning going forwards.”
Pochettino said he does not set out to secure a long-lasting public legacy but stressed personal and human impact, and he reflected on his time with the US team and at the recent World Cup. He acknowledged he was “not arrogant” before adding, jokingly, that he was “well, a little bit arrogant, but not too much,” and said: “We don’t take a project to be remembered forever. It’s the impact on the human being. It’s for us to be a good partner and, through the vision of the federation, to add our quality and knowledge of the game and to be part of this family. I hope, in Manchester United, to do the same. That is what we can do – add our expertise about soccer … The key factor, though, that can have a key influence is the human being.”
Pochettino will remain in charge for the USMNT’s Concacaf Nations League quarter-final tie with Haiti, with matches scheduled on Saturday and Tuesday.