Regarding the Match
Ahead of the upcoming Gold Cup final in 2025, U.S. Men`s National Team goalkeeper Matt Freese shared his thoughts on the positive atmosphere coach Mauricio Pochettino has cultivated within the squad. The United States is set to compete against Mexico on Sunday night for the championship. Freese, who has been the starting goalkeeper for all five games in the tournament, highlighted how this relatively young and inexperienced team has developed a strong bond throughout their campaign.
Freese`s Perspective
“We were talking about it just last night, and I was even messaging my high school friends about it – the atmosphere in this group is genuinely excellent,” Freese mentioned in an interview with The Overlap US. “The way we’ve connected over the past month and a half, being in a hotel for five and a half weeks certainly contributes to that. We understood that one of our key objectives for this summer, besides winning the trophy, was to truly come together as a team. Building some chemistry was a secondary goal, and it has happened very naturally and authentically; these connections have just formed. It’s fantastic to be a part of.”
He continued, recounting a previous challenge: “After that friendly match against Switzerland, it was a difficult moment for the team, for all of us. The immediate message was simply that we needed to recover quickly. This wasn`t the time to feel sorry for ourselves. It was a friendly, and while we aim to win friendlies, we had a major tournament approaching, so we had to quickly move on and change our focus.”
On Coach Pochettino
Freese, who plays for NYCFC, described working with Pochettino as a balance of trust and high expectations, which he believes is exactly what the team requires.
“Yes, working with him is amazing,” Freese stated. “He’s very approachable, extremely honest, and places a lot of trust in us, but he is also very demanding on the field. I think that balance is exactly what we need as a collective. He’s done a superb job… He’s very forward-thinking; as soon as a mistake or a difficult moment occurs, whether in training or a game, he always encourages us to focus on the next play. He always says, ‘The next one is the only one that matters,’ which is particularly crucial in an important tournament like this.”
He also praised Pochettino`s tactical skills: “And tactically, he`s obviously fantastic, second to none, and incredibly experienced. It`s been a great experience working with him. I know all the players are really enjoying working under him as well, and I truly believe he has been a significant factor in how well this group has bonded over this past month.”
The Bigger Picture
The USMNT has shown clear improvements in team cohesion throughout the Gold Cup competition, which is evident in their successful run to the later stages of the tournament.
What`s Next?
The U.S. Men`s National Team is scheduled to play against Mexico on Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET. The final match of the Gold Cup will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood