After a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup final, U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino did not hold back in criticizing referee Mario Escobar for what he viewed as crucial mistakes that affected the outcome of the match.
The U.S. team initially took control of the game with an early goal from Chris Richards just four minutes into the match.
However, things began to shift as Mexico equalized through Raúl Jiménez in the 27th minute.
Pochettino’s frustration peaked with key refereeing decisions, particularly a handball no-call against Mexico’s Jorge Sánchez.
Television replays showed Sánchez handling the ball in the area during the 66th minute, a moment that Pochettino believes should have resulted in a penalty kick for his team.
“If that happened on the opposite side, for sure it’s a penalty,” Pochettino stated emphatically in his post-match press conference.
He went on to elaborate on the incident, describing Sánchez’s actions as intentional, as if he were pushing his hand over the ball while slipping in the box.
“There’s no doubt that was a penalty and maybe, at that moment, it could have been 2-1 for us and we would be celebrating the trophy now. It’s embarrassing to see that situation; it’s a shame,” he added.
Despite entering the tournament on a rough patch and missing star players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Antonee Robinson, the U.S. team managed to reach the Gold Cup final following three wins in the group stage and knockout victories against Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Reflecting on the tournament’s journey, Pochettino expressed a sense of optimism for the team’s future, particularly with the World Cup approaching.
“I think it was an amazing tournament to realize the way we want to grow,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of building on this experience as they prepare for the World Cup, which will take place next year across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Pochettino recognized the pain of losing a final but remained hopeful about the team’s trajectory.
“The most important thing is to keep our heads up,” he remarked.
As the coach pondered the missed opportunities, he could not help but reflect on the potential moral boost that a victory over Mexico could have provided, particularly given their fierce rivalry.
He pointed out another contentious decision that led to Mexico’s second goal by Edson Álvarez in the 77th minute.
Originally ruled offside, the goal was allowed after a review, something Pochettino felt was unjust.
He noted that Mexican defender César Montes was in an offside position and impeded Richards, preventing him from effectively defending against the play that led to the goal.
“In this tournament, Mexico suffered two disallowed goals,” he mentioned, highlighting the inconsistency in officiating.
Pochettino’s frustrations were evident as he lamented the different standards applied to similar situations involving both teams.
He concluded his remarks by underscoring his belief in the team’s capacity to learn from the experience and compete effectively moving forward.
“I have no doubt we will be really competitive and difficult for our opponents,” he asserted.
As the Gold Cup draws to a close, the U.S. men’s national team looks ahead to future challenges while reflecting on lessons learned from this hard-fought final.
image source from：nytimes
