World Morning Star
Pochettino tearful during US press conference before Man Utd move
MANCHESTER UNITED’S new head coach Mauricio Pochettino broke down in tears today as he said leaving his role with the United States had been “one of the most difficult decisions” of his whole career.
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United confirmed the Argentinian as their new head coach today, just over 24 hours after they sacked Michael Carrick after the club’s worst start to a season since 1986.
Pochettino will take charge of the US’ Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday before heading to Manchester next week, with his official start date being November 18.
He became emotional as he expressed his thanks to US Soccer staff at a press conference today.
“It’s difficult now to talk for for me because I am a very emotional guy,” he said.
“I think always when we started to talk about that idea of become a head coach of this amazing country, this amazing federation, we were very excited about that, and to share a project that we really, really believe in, and a project and a programme that we were evolving together…..that is why it makes that decision more difficult. A decision that in some parts is a very sad decision.”
Flanked by US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone and its chief executive JT Batson, Pochettino added: “I am talking with my heart, and I want to say a big thank you to you, because we recovered our motivation.
“We recovered our capacity to dream big, the capacity to train players that really want to improve and really want to share good moments, and players that really care about the federation and this country, and they want to put the the country and the federation in the place that it deserves to be.”
Pochettino’s appointment is reported to have the unanimous endorsement of United’s leadership and the ownership and he was the only coach the club spoke to directly as a potential successor to Carrick.
Pochettino said today was “not the moment” to talk about United, with his focus being on his final two games in charge of the US.
Details of the staff who will join Pochettino at United will be confirmed in the coming days.
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