Pochettino Prepares for Friendly Against Mentor Bielsa

TAMPA – United States manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his profound admiration and respect for his mentor, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, emphasizing that it is “massive.” He cautioned the American squad to prepare for a tough match against Bielsa’s side.

The two coaches will face each other at Raymond James Stadium on Tuesday in a friendly encounter between the U.S. and Uruguay. Their relationship dates back to when Pochettino was 13 years old, when Bielsa, then coaching the reserve team, made a memorable 1 a.m. visit to Pochettino’s home to recruit him for Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys.

Bielsa later managed Pochettino at Newell’s, as well as during his tenure at La Liga club Espanyol and the Argentine national team.

“Always, my admiration and my respect is massive,” Pochettino remarked at Monday’s pre-match news conference. “I cannot consider him a friend or a normal person. It’s a deeper level of respect. I speak with him as one would with a hero; you wait for him to greet you before you say hello.”

This match marks the first meeting since Uruguay’s 1-0 victory over the U.S. in the group stage of the 2024 Copa America, a result that eliminated the Americans from the tournament. In that encounter, Uruguay’s physical style ultimately overwhelmed the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT).

Pochettino anticipates a similar approach from La Celeste, which finished fourth in the World Cup qualifying rounds in South America. “Yes, tomorrow is an opportunity to enjoy being close to him,” Pochettino said about Bielsa. “At the same time, we will likely suffer because all teams under Marcelo’s management are extremely tough to face.”

Recently, the U.S. team has demonstrated a growing boldness in their physical play, particularly during last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Paraguay. A late-game scuffle erupted when U.S. defender Alex Freeman grabbed the ball for a throw-in, leading to a confrontation with Paraguay’s Gustavo Gómez. Both benches cleared, and while Pochettino acknowledges the risks of such scenarios, he was pleased to see the U.S. players defending each other.

“We all feel proud of how we acted and behaved; Alex did well by protecting the ball and standing up for our interests,” Pochettino commented. “This shows character and commitment. I was genuinely happy to see that because when aggression arises from the other side, it is essential to defend ourselves.”

Pochettino is also optimistic about the ongoing development of the USMNT’s identity. “I see our identity forming through our defensive build-up and adherence to game principles,” he stated. “The tactical approach in our play, our ability to rotate, use space effectively, and transition to dominate the game in the opponent’s half is improving.”

The upcoming match against Uruguay will be the final fixture for the U.S. in 2025. Pochettino’s team is set to play two additional friendlies in March—likely against Portugal and Belgium—and another two in late May or early June in preparation for hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico next summer.