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Jeff Carlisle
Inglewood, California – US male national team Manager Mauricio Pochettino sought to play the political connotations of the semi-final of the League of Nations of the Concacaf of Thursday against PanamaDeclaring: “I think it’s a big mistake if we are talking about politics because I think people (are not) wait for us to talk that way.”
The recent comments by President Donald Trump concerning the sovereignty of the Panama Canal introduced a layer of tension in the long -awaited revenge match between the USMNT and the Panama, according to the Canaleros‘2-1 Victory last summer American copa.
But Pochettino said that the preparation and attention of his team only remained on the competition, not on the political context.
“We have to play for us. We must feel proud to defend our flag and our badge,” Pochettino said at the Tuesday press conference.
“We have to play for our country, but always on the field trying to be better, to beat the opponent. And I think it’s a big mistake if we talk about politics because I think people don’t wait for us to talk that way. That’s why I think that (it was my way. Play and try to win.”
Pochettino added: “We want to destroy Panama, we want to destroy the next one, and we want to win but destroy.” But he quickly clarified: “When I say that we destroy, it is in a way (sporty).”
Thomas Christiansen, coach of Panama, was even more circumspect in his thoughts on the political connotations of the game.
“The political situation is not my business,” said Christiansen. “If you want to talk about football systems or tactics, I’m happy to talk about it. But politics is not my (thing).”
Canada Coach Jesse Marsch was also questioned on the impact on Tuesday that geopolitical events can have among the nations participating in the League of Concacaf Nations.
“I’m not going to become a political at the moment,” said Marsch, from Wisconsin.
“I will say that I think that by looking at the 4 nations in hockey, you can see that the climate for sports in North America was raised for national teams. I really hope that this tournament could be the best reflections of our companies, because we do not have to waste time teams all along.”
Last month, Marsch spoke a lot about tensions between his country of origin and Canada and called on the United States to “dismiss the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being a 51st state”.
Pochettino said it was not the first time that a political situation mixed with his professional life. The Argentinian spent a large part of his career as a coach in the United Kingdom, who in 1982 prevailed in a war against Argentina for the control of the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the fact of Las Malvinas.
“To mix all these situations, I have never been in my own way,” he said.
“This is why, please, we have to take advantage of it, because football is about to have fun for fans, to enjoy, happiness is a great possibility of seeing four countries, four teams that are incredible with incredible players, with incredible coach staff, incredible coaches. I invite people to come and take advantage of the game because I think it’s, for me, it’s the best game in the world.
The information from the Associated Press was used in this report.