USMNT players at big clubs lack urgency

In recent years, the number of American players at major European clubs has increased significantly.

This appears to be a clear victory for the United States men’s national team, but one of these players has highlighted a potential downside.

Although players like Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie have made major strides at the club level, the USMNT has been mostly stagnant since reaching the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup.

The lowest point came this summer when the United States crashed out of the Copa América in the group stage. After this home tournament, head coach Gregg Berhalter was fired and eventually replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino has only managed four matches so far, but McKennie believes the Argentine is already starting to impose his authority on the USMNT.

“I honestly think (Pochettino) has brought back a kind of wildness to the team, that South American feeling, which obviously comes out in the hard tackling, not caring who you’re playing against, maybe a bit of dirt “I guess you could say, not to contradict the sport itself, but a little bit of dirt in the game and that grittiness that the United States is always known for,” McKennie said. CBS Sports.

McKennie grew up watching USMNT teams who had to prove their place on the international stage. In the 1990s and 2000s, the United States sent teams to the World Cup made up of players based in the United States or in smaller leagues in Europe.

Now, the USMNT relies on a pool of players primarily based in Europe, including clubs like Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. According to McKennie, players who come to the USMNT from the top tier of European club soccer may feel like they have less to prove.

“I obviously think that since a lot of players are playing in Europe now, playing for decent clubs and big clubs, respectable clubs, it’s very different to what it was back then,” the player added. 26 years old. “All these guys had something to prove all the time, to these bigger teams and I think that’s what’s missing right now.”

McKennie believes Pochettino will be able to help the USMNT rediscover the urgency that teams of the past had.

“The fact that we have all these guys who are in Europe – we’re there, we’re doing it day in and day out and we’re at respectable clubs and big clubs, whereas back then they were trying to get to these clubs, so they’re there every game and say, “Yo, this is America, this is what we’re known for, you doubt us and you say we’re not good enough and so on.” suite,” and then we go over there and do this. what we do best,” says McKennie.

“I think it will definitely be something that (Pochettino) can help us and instill in us again.”