Mauricio Pochettino will lead the US men’s national team through the remainder of this international window, a source with direct knowledge of US Soccer’s plans told the Guardian on Thursday.
Pochettino has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Michael Carrick, who was sacked as Manchester United manager on Thursday. The Guardian previously reported that the framework of a deal had been agreed between Pochettino and United. The Athletic was first to report news of Pochettino’s plans for the upcoming US matches.
The USMNT face Haiti on Saturday and then again on Tuesday in Miami and Cincinnati, respectively, in the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Nations League. Pochettino has been leading the US through training at the federation’s headquarters and training facility outside Atlanta this week. The Argentinian has yet to publicly address his link to United, though he is scheduled to speak to reporters on Friday morning.
United have also officially made contact with US Soccer in an approach for Pochettino’s services, multiple sources familiar with the negotiations said Thursday. Pochettino and his representatives had already ironed out details of a proposed agreement, with the Argentinian keeping the federation appraised of those ongoing talks. United would need to pay a buyout clause of $10m (£7.5m) to hire Pochettino and millions more, reportedly, to bring along his longtime assistant coaching staff, who are also expected to make the move.
At US training this week, Pochettino’s players have addressed the still-fluid situation surrounding their head coach. Striker Folarin Balogun told reporters on Thursday that “If I had a vote, I’d like to keep things the way they are.”
On Tuesday, defender Antonee Robinson downplayed the significance of Pochettino’s reported departure.
“As a soccer player, we’re pretty used to sort of fast training environments and games … so we’re all very good at just focusing on the next task and about the next session or the next game coming up,” Robinson said. “For me personally, I don’t really look at it … It’s just focusing on we’ve got a game at the weekend and I’m going to do everything I can to be ready to play for him, and how he wants us to play.”
