Mauricio Pochettino will lead the United States men’s national team until the end 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. Athletic was the first to announce Pochettino’s plans for the upcoming US matches.
The USMNT will face Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday in Miami and Cincinnati, respectively, in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League. Pochettino led the United States in training this week at the federation’s headquarters and training center outside Atlanta. The Argentine has yet to publicly address his connection with United, although he is due to speak to reporters on Friday morning.
United has also formally made contact with US Soccer as part of an approach for Pochettino’s services, multiple sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday. Pochettino and his representatives had already ironed out the details of a proposed deal, with the Argentine keeping the federation updated on ongoing talks. United would have to pay a $10m (£7.5m) buyout clause to hire Pochettino and millions more, it is understood, to bring in his team of long-serving assistant coaches, who are also expected to make the move.
During American training this week, Pochettino’s players addressed the still fluid situation around their head coach. Forward Folarin Balogun told reporters on Thursday that “if I had a vote, I would like things to stay as they are.”
On Tuesday, defender Antonee Robinson downplayed the importance of Pochettino’s announced departure.
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“As a soccer player, we’re pretty used to training environments and fast-paced games… so we’re all very good at just focusing on the next task and the next session or the next game coming up,” Robinson said. “For me personally, I don’t really look at it…I just focus on the game we have this weekend and I’m going to do everything I can to be ready to play for him and how he wants us to play.”
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