Pochettino faces off against mentor Bielsa when the US host Uruguay in a friendly

Mauricio Pochettino will face Marcelo Bielsa, the coach who recruited him as a 13-year-old, when the United States play Uruguay in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Pochettino, 53, took over the US team last year, while Bielsa, 70, became Uruguay coach in 2023.

“My admiration and respect are enormous,” Pochettino said on Monday.

«He was key in my career (as a) player and key figure – to love and inspire that game, he inspired me to keep pushing and become a coach. Yes, tomorrow is something for me to enjoy, to be very close to him and at the same time we will suffer because all teams under Marcelo’s management are so difficult to play.»

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Pochettino played under Bielsa at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina from 1990 to 1992, Spain’s Espanyol in 1998 and with the Argentina national team. Bielsa went on to coach Argentina and Chile, as well as several clubs. After his playing career ended in 2006, Pochettino coached clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

He called Bielsa a hero of his.

“You always wait for him to say hello and then you say hello,” Pochettino said.

The 16th-ranked USA is coming off a 2-1 win over Paraguay on Saturday, the same day that No. 15 Uruguay drew 0-0 against Mexico.

Pochettino plans to rotate some of his lineup given the short turnaround time and the move from cool weather last weekend in Chester, Pennsylvania, to warmer temperatures in Florida.

“We have to think about the clubs that they own the players and don’t take any risks because I think they are in a very difficult period in the league,” he said.

The US is undefeated in four straight matches, all friendlies against World Cup teams. Pochettino took over the Americans in October 2024 after a first-round exit at the Copa America and described the team’s poor results in the CONCACAF Nations League final four in March as a turning point.

«You don’t change the captain of the ship in the middle of this storm. No, you instill confidence and drive,» he said. “But if something was wrong, you have to change. But if you change, you need time to build up the way you are going to work and do things.”

After Tuesday, the US has two friendlies in March before Pochettino announces his World Cup squad.

Also Monday, the U.S. Soccer Federation said former Deloitte Consulting CEO Dan Helfrich will become chief operating officer on Jan. 1. Helfrich, a former Georgetown football player, has been a play-by-play broadcaster for the Hoyas men’s team since 2005.

Published on November 18, 2025