Pochettino Believes US Has Time to Fix its Problems after Crashing out of CONCACAF Nations League 

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands on the sideline ahead of the first half during the CONCACAF Nations League Third Place soccer match between the USA and Canada in Inglewood, California, USA, 23 March 2025. (EPA)
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands on the sideline ahead of the first half during the CONCACAF Nations League Third Place soccer match between the USA and Canada in Inglewood, California, USA, 23 March 2025. (EPA)
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Pochettino Believes US Has Time to Fix its Problems after Crashing out of CONCACAF Nations League 

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands on the sideline ahead of the first half during the CONCACAF Nations League Third Place soccer match between the USA and Canada in Inglewood, California, USA, 23 March 2025. (EPA)
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands on the sideline ahead of the first half during the CONCACAF Nations League Third Place soccer match between the USA and Canada in Inglewood, California, USA, 23 March 2025. (EPA)

Mauricio Pochettino offered an Americanism after the United States' second straight dismal loss in the CONCACAF Nations League.

"If we would be today in this situation in one year time, for sure, I will tell you, 'Houston, we have a problem, no?' SOS," the Argentine coach said after Sunday's 2-1 loss to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League third-place match.

The US hadn't lost a competitive match to its northern neighbors on US soil since 1957 and it hadn't lost back-to-back matches to Canada since 1980 and '85. But after Pochettino's team followed up its surprising 1-0 defeat to Panama on Thursday night with another clunker, the coach didn't seem worried and tried his best to radiate optimism and problem-solving acumen.

"It's all a process we need to change, and I don't want to say that I'm happy — don't take me wrong," Pochettino said. "But if (there's) something negative about (a) result, something to learn, it's better now, because I think we have time."

The defeats took place at SoFi Stadium, where the US plays its World Cup opener on June 12, 2026.

"We were not able to discover and to try and extend our strategy to the team, the capacity to play another way," Pochettino said. "I think we have time. I prefer that that happened today, and not in one year."

The US is 5-3 since the arrival last fall of Pochettino, the longtime Tottenham boss who also worked at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. It's difficult to discern any areas of progress for this modestly talented roster under its new coach, but Pochettino believes his brief tenure has been useful for identifying the problems he'll need to solve in the next year.

"I am (a) very optimistic and positive guy," Pochettino said. "Even when I'm angry and really upset and really disappointed, I want to find the positive thing that we can take from these two games. Who knows? No one knows how we are going to arrive at the World Cup, and then to perform. For sure, (the Nations League result) is not going to affect. If it is going to affect, it is in a positive way, not negative."

The Americans looked neither sharp nor competitive against Panama, and they improved only slightly against Canada. They had one moment of offensive success when Tim Weah and Diego Luna did the hard work to set up a first-half goal by Patrick Agyemang, who has scored in three of his first four national team appearances, but the US had far more moments of frustration.

The Americans also had just enough moments of defensive disorganization to cost them dearly. Although the US back line was a bit patchwork due to injuries, the defenders couldn't stop Canada's Jonathan David before he fired home the eventual winning goal in the second half.

The US didn't get much out of captain Christian Pulisic, the AC Milan star. Pulisic came off in the 69th minute against Canada.

"Now all we can do is go and be an example at our clubs every day, be the best we can be," Pulisic said. "That's how the national team is, and then when we come back, of course some things need to change, and we need to improve. We're going to look back and see what that is. I don't have all the answers at the moment."

Pochettino will get only a few more training camps and one more tournament before the World Cup. That tournament is the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup — and even that won't be a full-team experience, since a few players will be with their pro teams at the simultaneous FIFA Club World Cup.

For all their flaws, Pochettino doesn't publicly doubt his players' burning desire to fix things before their World Cup moment next year. Pulisic and the other American leaders all say they'll work to find the solutions to the multiple problems facing them in the ensuing 15 months.

"This team is everything to me," Pulisic said. "I care so much for this team, for this country. I hope people know that about me, and it's truly an honor, so anytime I get to lead this team and this country, it's an honor for me."



Real Madrid Fans Bid Emotional Farewell to Ancelotti and Modric at the Bernabeu

Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 24, 2025 Real Madrid's Luka Modric acknowledges fans on the pitch after playing his last LaLiga match for Real Madrid. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 24, 2025 Real Madrid's Luka Modric acknowledges fans on the pitch after playing his last LaLiga match for Real Madrid. (Reuters)
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Real Madrid Fans Bid Emotional Farewell to Ancelotti and Modric at the Bernabeu

Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 24, 2025 Real Madrid's Luka Modric acknowledges fans on the pitch after playing his last LaLiga match for Real Madrid. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 24, 2025 Real Madrid's Luka Modric acknowledges fans on the pitch after playing his last LaLiga match for Real Madrid. (Reuters)

Real Madrid fans bid an emotional farewell to coach Carlo Ancelotti and midfielder Luka Modric — the club’s most decorated figures — in their La Liga finale on Saturday.

The 65-year-old Ancelotti is taking the Brazil job after winning 15 titles in his two stints with the club. The 39-year-old Modric is not returning after winning 28 titles in 13 seasons with Madrid.

Ancelotti and Modric shed tears at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 with a pair of goals from Kylian Mbappé.

“It's been a pleasure to coach this club,” Ancelotti said while speaking to the fans in a ceremony after the match. “It’s been unforgettable."

The game was stopped for a few minutes when Modric was substituted in the final minutes, and players from both sides did a guard of honor for the veteran as he left the field.

He also spoke after the match, and he and many fans teared up.

“The moment that I didn't want to arrive has arrived,” Modric said. “But it's been a long journey, a wonderful journey."

Modric received a standing ovation by the Bernabeu crowd and couldn’t hold back tears. The crowd chanted his name, and some fans held signs thanking Modric and Ancelotti.

Modric, the team captain on Saturday, hugged his teammates and then his wife and kids who waited by the sideline. He also hugged Toni Kroos, who left Madrid last season after they formed one of the greatest midfields in the club’s history.

A video was shown on the stadium videoboards with key moments by Modric. The midfielder will still play in the Club World Cup next month.

Modric helped Madrid win six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups. He is one of only five players to have won six European Cups.

The Croatia international made 591 appearances for Madrid — eighth on the club’s all-time list — and scored 43 goals. He had been playing fewer minutes in recent seasons under Ancelotti.

Ancelotti is leaving after four mostly successful seasons in this stint, which ended on a down note as the club lost the Spanish league title and was eliminated in the Champions League.

He also coached the club from 2013-15. In total, he was in charge of Madrid in more than 350 matches and helped it win three Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, two Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey, three UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups.

Mbappé scored in the 38th and 83rd minutes to take his league-leading tally to 30, five more than Robert Lewandowski. He and Barcelona, the league champion, finish the season at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Madrid had already secured second place.

It was also a farewell for Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil, who is stepping down this summer after a mostly successful six-and-a-half-year stint in charge of the Basque Country club.

Referee Mario Melero López also was appearing in his final match.