Pochettino takes issue with questioning after USMNT’s Turkey loss: ‘Sorry guys, we won (the group)’

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino made a cold exit from his post-match press conference and struck a defiant tone following his team’s 3-2 loss to Turkey to close out its World Cup group-stage campaign.

The USMNT still finished top of Group D, that fate determined after two games, which allowed Pochettino to rotate nearly his entire lineup at SoFi Stadium. Pochettino fielded a number of questions about the team’s performance, momentum and outlook for the knockout rounds. He took exception to the tone of the queries.

“It cannot be possible that Turkey celebrates three points, Australia celebrates getting through, Paraguay celebrates getting through… for you to not say congratulations for winning the group, it’s a little bit sad,” Pochettino said.

“I need to remind everyone we won the group, sorry guys, we won,” he added, before standing and swiftly leaving the room.

Turkey scored the game-winning goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time with the last kick of the game. Pochettino pointed out on numerous occasions in the press conference how the team had already wrapped up first place in the group, making the outcome here inconsequential.

“I’m happy, maybe I’m not showing because your questions are a little bit weird,” Pochettino told the media minutes before his departure. “But I’m happy, the players are happy because we are first. I’m confused, maybe the vibes are like we go home tonight and Turkey stays (in the World Cup), no?”

The USMNT rolled out an almost entirely rotated squad from the win over Australia, with just Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie retaining their starting places. Pepi got his start against the Socceroos in place of an injured Christian Pulisic. McKennie played 86 minutes before being replaced by Malik Tillman. None of the four key starters at the risk of yellow-card suspension — Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson — made an appearance. Yellow cards are wiped after the group stage, so they all start fresh in the round of 32.

All of that change, coupled with the U.S.’s first loss of the competition, resulted in questions about whether the goodwill achieved in the opening two games was somewhat tempered. Not in Pochettino’s eyes, though.

“Explain what you mean in momentum — I don’t understand,” Pochettino said. “To play with the same team we played against Australia to take a risk? To receive a yellow card (suspension)? To risk players who maybe have problems? I don’t understand. Germany lost momentum too and they played with (mostly) the same team (in their loss to Ecuador on Thursday).”

Auston Trusty gave the U.S. an early lead before Turkey responded. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)

Auston Trusty scored the opening goal and Sebastian Berhalter leveled the game early in the second half after Turkey took the lead. Arda Guler, in a man-of-the-match performance, scored and generally dictated his side’s best attacking moments.

Importantly for the U.S., star attacker Pulisic entered the match in the 58th minute, making his return after exiting vs. Paraguay at halftime with a calf injury in the opening U.S. match. He moved normally and showed purpose, and was immediately the most dangerous American attacker on the pitch after he came on in place of Tim Weah, who had started on the left wing. The performance allays any fears Pulisic will be compromised in the knockout rounds, though he was nutmegged by Guler in the buildup to Turkey’s game-winning goal.

“The objective was not just to win, but to get Christian 30-40 minutes,” Pochettino said. “He finished well and he made an impact on the pitch.”

Still, with six points, the U.S. technically finished with its best-ever group-stage performance. The record is matched by the 1930 team, though a win was two points in those days compared to three now. Pochettino would have preferred that reality reflected better on Thursday.

In another exchange, when asked what lessons the team learned, Pochettino took the opportunity to answer his own question.

“No one congratulated us for finishing first in a very difficult group,” Pochettino said. “I congratulate the players, staff and fans. Now I’ll answer your question. You always learn when you are in a World Cup.”

Earlier on Thursday, it was confirmed that the team’s round-of-32 opponent will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, with that clash to be held in Santa Clara, Calif., next Wednesday, and the U.S. manager is confident in his group, regardless of Thursday’s result.

“We’re a much better team now than we were before,” Pochettino said. “That will be put to the test next game.”