Pochettino's Anticipated Arrival Spurs US Soccer Team to Elevate Performance

Mauricio Pochettino's potential appointment as U.S. soccer coach looms over interim coach Mikey Varas and his players. After a disappointing loss to Canada, the team focuses on intensifying efforts against New Zealand. Players emphasize readiness, confidence, and a fighting spirit regardless of the new coach.

Mauricio Pochettino's pending arrival looms over interim coach Mikey Varas and his players.

Following a dismal performance in Canada's first win over the U.S. on American soil since 1957, players say they realize more intensity is needed when the team faces New Zealand on Tuesday night.

'All we can do is put ourselves in the best position so that if an announcement is made in the near future that we're ready, that we're confident going into to the next step for this federation,' US midfielder Christian Pulisic said on Monday. 'We need to show that no matter who the coach is that we're willing to fight and give the best for this country and that we want to win games.' Varas and players criticized the team's effort in Saturday's 2-1 defeat, the first US match since the first-round elimination at the Copa America led the US Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter.

Pochettino, a former coach of Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, has been in negotiations with the USSF since mid-August. He appears likely to take over for friendlies against Panama on October 12 in Austin, Texas, and at Mexico three days later.

'Sometimes when someone new comes in, yeah, it gives everyone a bit of an extra push, and you know, what, I need to show a little bit extra. I need to give a good first impression,' Pulisic said. 'It can change a little bit of the mentality, a little bit of the culture.' Pochettino would become the first foreign-born coach to head the US since Jurgen Klinsmann from 2011-16.

(With inputs from agencies.)