Mauricio Pochettino made a winning start as the new US Men's National Team manager, leading the squad to a solid 2-0 victory against Panama in Austin, Texas.
Mauricio Pochettino
Yunus Musah, the dynamic midfielder from AC Milan, broke the deadlock in the second half, and PSV’s rising star Ricardo Pepi added the finishing touch with a late goal, sealing the game.
Veteran goalkeeper Matt Turner, currently on loan at Crystal Palace, showed his worth despite not having played this season, pulling off two clutch saves to keep Panama at bay.
After the game, Pochettino shared his thoughts on the team’s performance: “After a few days training with the team, I think it's amazing the way that we were focused and concentrated and tried to follow the plan.”
“It was a professional performance. It's the basis for the first step to start to grow and get better.”
“There are many things to improve, to correct, but this is the beginning of a process that has to arrive in 2026 [at the World Cup] in the best condition. I am also happy because we have won, and whenever you win, things are easier to correct and improve.”