Post-Match Press Conference: USA's Mauricio Pochettino On 4-1 Win Over Paraguay

[0:00] Mauricio, obviously you've been looking forward to this match and your team's been looking forward [0:04] to this match for a long time. How do you think your team played? How do you think Flo Balligan [0:08] played? And just your overall assessment of their performance? I think it's difficult to talk [0:15] because it's the noise and everything. We need to change the room for the next game because [0:24] this is annoying me because it's unbelievable. With the amazing stadium that we have, [0:28] we don't have comfortable room to make a very important press conference. The performance was [0:41] really good. I think we really played well. We are so happy. But that is only the start. [0:53] It's still two games to play. We need to enjoy about that start of the tournament. But knowing [1:04] that we need to keep going and trying to improve and trying to try to do better in the next game [1:11] because it's going to be all the games very competitive. But of course, I'm so happy. Player [1:20] deserve big credit about the performance. And then it's not only to talk about some names. It's about to [1:28] talk about the collective. I think it's not only Valo or different players that can perform. I think the team [1:38] was amazing. But not only were they only started in 11. If not all the players around were in the bench [1:47] and they were involved after and the staff and everything. And if I need to price today, one thing [1:58] is not only the, of course, the principal actor, but the fans. Amazing. They were amazing. And only [2:08] in behalf of the whole team, massive thank you to the fans because the energy that is related to the [2:16] team was amazing. And we can do amazing things if the fans are in this way. [2:24] Right. Front row, please. Mauricio, Brian Lewis, New York Post in English. What was your overall [2:38] impression of Christian and the impact that he had on the game in the first half? And B, what can you [2:45] tell us for those that didn't get a chance to talk to you? What can you tell us about his health? [2:49] Yeah, you want to push me to talk about names and it's about the team. It's a collective performance. [2:54] Of course, that he was amazing. What are you going to tell you? He was amazing. Of course. Ballou was [3:00] amazing. Of course. Tim Rimm was amazing. Of course. Chris Richard was amazing. Yes. [3:05] Weston McKenney was amazing. Amazing. Yes. No, no. Malik Tillman was amazing. Yes. It was amazing. [3:11] Taylor Hamm. Amazing. Anthony Robins. Robinson. Amazing. Alec Freeman. Amazing. [3:17] I think was the collective approach. And of course that we have talented players that you can observe [3:28] and you can see, oh, what are players. But I think if one thing we need to today to prize is the collective effort [3:38] and the approach of the game. How is he? He received a kick, a kick, a knock in two days before to start [3:50] before today in a training session. I hope it's not a big issue. But when finished the first half, [3:57] when started to get cold, he cannot walk. Hope that is not a big issue. That was so, you know, [4:06] so rushed because it was in the last minute that we needed to change and to do the, the substitution. [4:14] But now I think was better and hope for the next game will be, will be available. [4:21] You had about three weeks now to have worked with the players before the tournament started. [4:28] Probably the longest time you've had to work with when you had all the players here. What were some of [4:32] the things you were hoping to get them working on and what, how did it best translate today into the [4:39] success the team had? Yes. That is why we were desperate to one year ago to work with the whole [4:47] team and we didn't have the possibility because we know very well that if you have the possibility to [4:53] work three, four weeks with a whole group that you believe that can arrive to the World Cup, [5:00] this type of things can happen, no? Because I've seen they need to know us, we know to know them, [5:12] to understand what we expect from them. When you only have a few days, you know, to reunite and to [5:20] play, you only select players but you cannot coach players. Only in this type of tournament like was the [5:28] World Cup or now the World Cup because you have a preparation two, three, four weeks. I think that [5:38] is the only moment that we can coach. If not, you only need to select and to put players on the field. [5:46] I think we are so happy because I think all that we were working today was fantastic and I think the [5:54] performance of the team overall was really good but it's only one game. It's only one game. It's [6:01] only three points. We need to keep improving in many other things and knowing that it's going to be, [6:08] the journey is going to be really, really difficult. The U.S. has been known for most of its World Cup [6:13] history as being in a lot of tight games, really needing to scrape through results. What does it say [6:19] about this team's evolution, that they were able to take the game to Paraguay the way that they did, [6:25] show the attacking flair that they did, and the confidence that they did tonight? Difficult question [6:33] because it's in the past happened something, today is today. It's difficult to compare, no, [6:43] with the past. I don't know what happened in the past. I think we need to talk about today and the [6:49] players deserve big credit because I think it was a great match. It was amazing for our fans [7:00] to see or to watch this type of game and today I think we, I am so proud and we are so proud all [7:12] because I think we are winning a lot of fans, adding fans in that sport here in America. The players [7:22] looked like they were really enjoying the game without any pressure of playing at the home country [7:29] in the World Cup. What did you tell them before the match? No, I think we were talking a lot in the [7:36] last few weeks. I think what was the key is to translate all that expectation and pressure in energy. [7:48] is that was in the way that we approached the first day when we started to work all together, [7:57] is to take that competition in the way that the sport demand from you, that this happiness, talent, [8:07] inspiration, feel free, nothing, think outside when the game is stopped, but during the game is play. [8:19] Under our organization, you know, but then them is, is to transform all this expectation in energy and I [8:30] think they approach really, really well in the game. [8:33] Hello, Mauricio, in Spanish, Sanjay with Backhill and the Scuff Podcast. Can you talk about the level of verticality today? [8:41] That was the plan or was it what you saw during the game because there was a lot of space and running behind the defense? [8:54] Thank you very much. Thank you. [8:56] Because I love you very much and I will respond well. Because the question in Spanish is, of course, [9:04] that the game plan, that the game plan, that the game plan, in Spanish, like all trainers, we have our plan of [9:11] play. No only we have verticality, but we have possession and also the game plan, the game plan, [9:17] that we have played in position, from the position, from the dominance and from the good construction that we started [9:27] from at the back until we started the middle field and a good position to be agresist in the last third, I believe that we [9:37] gave the possibility of being able to create chances. Of course, I said before that in the [9:44] We are two teams that we had played in November and we knew well. [9:49] It's clear that it's been a night that everything has been done quite well. [9:55] Also in football, there is no only a statement, [9:59] but sometimes you have a better night than your opponent. [10:05] But you have to respect Paraguay because it's a great team [10:08] and this is only a game. [10:10] For four years, Argentina started losing with Arabia Saudita [10:16] and ends up winning the world. [10:18] That's why it's not only how it begins, [10:20] but how it goes through the tournament [10:22] and the most important thing is how it ends. [10:27] First line, left side. [10:30] Mauricio, here in Español. [10:35] Emmanuel Greco for Cadena 3 Argentina. [10:37] Consulting if this result of today [10:40] is your selection as one of the surprises of this World Cup. [10:44] We know that in this world of sports, [10:51] everyone, [10:52] against a good result and a good result, [10:55] the exitism appears. [10:57] And sometimes, [10:58] we throw too many elogies [11:04] and when you lose a game, [11:07] it's all very catastrophic. [11:10] So, [11:12] I believe that we have done a good game. [11:14] We have won a game, [11:15] and we have won a game that gives us three points. [11:17] But for a surprise, [11:18] it would be a team [11:20] that would be a minimum, [11:21] quarter or semifinals [11:24] and you say, well, [11:25] it would be a surprise, [11:26] but for now, [11:27] I believe that [11:28] we have to only analyze [11:30] that they have played well, [11:31] that they are doing well, [11:32] that they are doing well, [11:33] because they have done well, [11:34] that they have played well, [11:35] that they have played well, [11:36] that they have played well, [11:37] and that they have achieved a very important victory [11:39] against a team like Paraguay, [11:41] that it always is difficult to compete. [11:43] And I believe that [11:44] that we have to give [11:45] the opportunity to continue to grow. [11:48] In the end, [11:49] it is not only more than three points. [11:51] We will see throughout the tournament [11:53] if we will see [11:54] that great surprise [11:56] that other countries [11:58] were in the previous World. [12:01] I believe, [12:04] in the left. [12:05] Here, [12:05] here, [12:06] here, [12:07] Mauricio, [12:08] Jonathan Fabián, [12:09] here for Mundialdefondo.com Argentina. [12:10] Well, [12:11] you just said you did the good level [12:12] that had the team in general. [12:14] A much of us surprised us [12:16] not because the United States [12:17] could win, [12:18] but because of the difference [12:19] of the match, [12:21] I wanted to ask you [12:23] if you surprised us [12:24] the high level [12:27] of the team [12:28] and what we have to maintain, [12:30] as well, [12:31] you say this level. [12:32] this level? What do you have to maintain for the United States, not to say that it is [12:36] a semifinal, but to advance in this level? [12:40] Well, in the last two games, I think that in October, November of last year, with [12:50] victories to Paraguay and Uruguay, the team began to have the identity that we [12:57] intended and the rasgos that we wanted to move forward and the principles in the game, in the [13:04] field. In March it is always difficult, Portugal and Belgium, two games that we lost, but two [13:13] games where the circumstances were not the best in the moment of your players, when they come, [13:20] you always depend on the state of form, and we both talked about the [13:25] country of Belgium and Portugal, which always in March is a complex month. We [13:34] played two games, we played two very important games in Senegal, champions of Africa and [13:40] Germany, I think that today everyone has a winner, or possibly a candidate to win the [13:48] world. And I think that the feeling and the [13:55] commitment that we had in the two games, I think that we were in growth and that we could [14:02] give a good game today. I think that there were many factors that always play to your [14:11] favor and I think that you need to always, not only the automatism, the preparation of the [14:17] game and the other, but that you have a good night and that things go to your favor. I think that we [14:25] have done a very good game, but we have to have the precaution of knowing that we have to [14:34] grow, that the next game against Australia will be difficult and that we have to recover, [14:40] we have to improve, we have to work on some facets in the game that, beyond that today [14:46] good things, we have to keep improving. And I want to say the best to Paraguay because I have a [14:52] great love for Gustavo, I think he is a magnificent coach and everything that he has won, he has [14:58] always deserved for the great person he is and all the effort in his career. So nothing is [15:06] done, nothing is done, neither we nor them, we have to continue to compete with two parties for each one.