Mauricio Pochettino shouldnt return after USMNTs World Cup abject failure: Alexi Lalas

“You had one job, and you blew it.”The case for cutting ties with Mauricio Pochettino is as simple as that to Alexi Lalas, referring to the U.S.’ embarrassing 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.The Fox Sports analyst needed about half a second to declare the coach needed to “go” when asked about Pochettino’s future with the team during an interview with talkSPORT.“I mean, it’s not that I want him to leave.I just think that this cycle has run its course,” Lalas said.

“When it comes to Mauricio Pochettino, you had one job.And it was the game against Belgium.

You win that game, then you’re in some rarefied air.And it’s not gravy but let’s be honest, you’re playing against Spain.

And you take your chances, you’re back in an underdog type of role.“So I think that they [U.S.Soccer] move on.

I believe he’s had a good time, but you had one job, and you blew it.And, you know, you live and die by that.

Every coach understands that, every manager understands that, and certainly Mauricio Pochettino does.”Pochettino’s contract expires this summer, but he could receive an extension that would keep him in charge through the 2030 World Cup cycle.Neither he nor U.S.Soccer — which said it agreed to continue discussing a possible extension — have made any decisions public.“We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program,” U.S.

soccer said in a statement.“We have shared excitement about our potential and also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition.”Pochettino, 54, was a celebrated hire when he took the job nearly two years ago, having previously coached some of the world’s best teams (Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea) and managed some of the world’s best players (Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Neymar).As recently as a week ago, Pochettino looked like the perfect fit for the job, leading ...