Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine coach of the U.S. national team, celebrated Friday’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup opener in Los Angeles, though he noted that what matters is not how you start, “but how you finish.”
“The performance was really good. I think we played very well, and we’re very happy, but this is just the beginning. We still have two games left to play,” the coach said at a post-match press conference.
Pochettino urges the team to keep their feet on the ground after the victory
“We need to enjoy this start, but we also need to keep moving forward.”
“And try to improve and try to do better than we did in this game,” he added.
The Argentine coach wanted to praise not only the team he manages, which he felt played “a good game” that earned them three crucial points in the standings.
But also to the fans, who “were incredible” in their support of the national team.
Mauricio Pochettino praised the United States’ play, noting its directness as well as its “possession built on solid ball movement.”
“It was a night where everything went pretty well for us,” he said.
However, he quickly urged the team not to let their guard down against an opponent he described as “a truly great team.”
The U.S. coach praises Gustavo Alfaro’s work
He also had kind words for his fellow countryman Gustavo Alfaro, the coach of the Paraguayan national team.
Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. national team coach, described him as a “magnificent coach” whose hard work throughout his career has brought him to where he is today.
And he took the opportunity to send a message to the Paraguayan people:
Nothing is decided yet. We must continue competing
Mauricio Pochettino
“Argentina started off losing to Saudi Arabia in the World Cup in Qatar and ended up winning the World Cup.”
“What matters is how the season unfolds and, most importantly, how it ends,” Pochettino insisted.
With information from EFE
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