United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has responded to the claims that he met with AC Milan representatives.
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The news first broke from The Athletic on Thursday that Milan had sent their people to Georgia for a discussion with Pochettino about becoming their new head coach, replacing Massimiliano Allegri who was sacked earlier in the week after a disastrous end to the season.
With the Andoni Iraola idea having now faded, Milan are being forced to look into alternative options for the position. Pochettino is one of a few names that has been linked, along with Xavi and the Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle, who could arrive with Ralf Rangnick.
Pochettino responds to Milan links
Back to Pochettino, ESPN report that met with reporters following Thursday’s training session at the U.S. Soccer Federation’s National Training Center outside Atlanta. He gave a direct ‘no’ when asked if he had met with the Rossoneri.
When pressed on whether his agents had talks with the club, he stated: It may be possible because they need to do their job. “We always say we finish our contract in July after the World Cup. Of course that we have approaches and of course I met some people, different clubs.
“But that is a conversation because we have friends in football. We have friends everywhere, and my representatives work for me to try to find the best possibility for the future. That is normal.
“If a club came and say, ‘Oh Mauricio, we want you, but you need to start tomorrow,’ I say, ‘Sorry, I commit with the [U.S.] national team’.
The Argentine coach said he and USA Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson had spoken on Sunday during a dinner in New York City about the idea of him staying beyond the upcoming tournament.
“He asked if we are open to listen [to] the project of the federation for the next four years,” Pochettino said. “And we said: Of course that we are open. Do you think that if we have a commitment with another people, we are going to waste time to listen?”
Batson meanwhile did not directly address reports linking Pochettino to the Milan job, but he did admit that he is aware of interest in the coach.
“[Pochettino], and the entire team, has been incredibly transparent [through] the entire process. So even when we first met a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join.
“He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here. He’s a big believer in what we’re doing at U.S. Soccer. He’s a big believer in soccer in America, and he’s a big believer in this men’s team.
“And so throughout this entire process, when you have top-class talent – whether it’s salespeople, whether it’s marketing people or whether it’s coaches – other organisations want them. And throughout this, Mauricio and team have been incredibly transparent.
“They’ve been great partners, and we’re of course excited about the summer. I’m confident that Mauricio and team are 100% focused on this summer. They’re excited. They’re among the first people here this morning. They’re the last to leave last night.
“They couldn’t be more excited about being here in our new home. A lot of what Mauricio has talked about with our entire staff earlier today is around how we turn this house into our home. They’re huge believers in that.
“We have plans for renewals, we have plans for interims and we have plans for replacements because you never know what’s going to happen,” Batson said. “It’s a global sport, lots going on. And so that’s a standard part of us growing up as U.S. Soccer.”
Pochettino himself hasn’t ruled out remaining with the U.S. team, telling reporters this past March, “Who knows what is going to happen? Like I said, we are open. We don’t have a contract for the future. But why not if we are happy and the federation is happy?”