"If I call, it's about myself. Come on, that is b------t." That's Mauricio Pochettino, at a press conference in New York, explaining why he has zero interest in picking up the phone to soften the blow for players cut from the USMNT's 26-man World Cup roster.
The roster — already leaked days before Tuesday's official announcement — was communicated to players via an emailed video. No call. No conversation. Just a video in your inbox telling you whether you're going to the World Cup or watching it from your couch. Some found that cold. Pochettino found the criticism puzzling.
The logic, explained
His argument isn't without merit. He drew on his own playing career, noting that the last thing he wanted after being cut was a conversation with the coach who just dropped him. What's there to say? "Am I going to lie?" he asked. He framed the decision as blunt honesty over performative compassion — he's not calling 55 players from the provisional roster, or everyone who passed through January and March camps. That would be theater.
He also made the point that getting cut doesn't mean you're done. Rosters aren't official until June 1, and injuries between now and then are always possible. Players need to stay sharp, not process their feelings. "That is the sport. That is football. That is soccer, and we cannot change the rules."
Landon Donovan pushed back — gently. Speaking to The Guardian, the USMNT legend said he understood Pochettino's thinking but would still have preferred a direct call, at least for players who had been part of the setup long-term. "Every player is different, though," he acknowledged. That's about as measured a critique as you'll get.
What it tells us about this USMNT setup
Pochettino running a high-accountability, low-sentimentality environment isn't necessarily a red flag — it might be exactly what a program with genuine World Cup ambitions needs. The USMNT plays Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6, their final warm-up matches before the tournament. Those results will matter far more than how the roster news was delivered.
Still, man-management is part of the job. Whether players who were cut stay motivated — and available — could yet become relevant if injuries hit. Pochettino said he hasn't slept in two weeks over these decisions. Whether the players left out feel that, or just feel an email, is another question entirely.
