Mauricio Pochettino's search for intensity

Wednesday in Florida, The US Men’s National Team concluded their January camp with a 3-0 win against Costa Rica. The victory follows a 3-1 win against Venezuela the Saturday before, ushering in the new year on a positive (albeit low stakes) note.

Operating outside of a FIFA window, the U.S. played with a youth-focused, MLS-heavy squad as they beat FIFA’s No. 47-ranked La Vinotinto and No. 54-ranked Los Ticos. For whatever rankings are worth, the U.S. are 16th.

Given the window, the first-choice senior team was in Europe and absent from this roster. January’s exploits were achieved with an experimental, ‘can they break in’ class of talent. Pochettino— operating in his third window in charge— said in advance of both games that his instructions to the crew were: “... be confident and show their real quality”, advising that they be undeterred by where they play.

A few certainly did. And while the odds are uphill, possibility remains before them. 24-year-old Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang scored in both games, certainly making his case for another call up. 21-year-old Diego Luna and 21-year-old Jack McGlynn are unique, skillful players that could one day break into a competitive midfield. The goalkeeper situation is an odd one. Turner remains solid though lacks playing time at the club level. Zack Steffen excelled when tested, making three saves, including two impressive ones.

But beyond predictions of who could reach that next level— or the simple pleasure of watching the program re-gather and play— what strikes me most this January (and will likely remain with me through the year) is Mauricio’s Pochettino’s continued emphasis on the necessity of a more inspired intensity.

In Pochettino’s pre-Venezuela press conference, he told reporters one thing he hopes to translate from Argentine football to American soccer:

“One thing from Argentina I can apply here, I think is so simple. Because it's the way they compete, [the way the] the Argentine player competes, the mentality. When you lose a ball, you cry. When you lose a game, you spend maybe one week, you know, in your room and you don't want to go out. How [you] defend your badge, your flag. I think how you defend your identity, your culture, I think that is what we want to translate.”

The 52-year-old center back born in Murphy, Argentina went on: “Because, when you play for your national team and you've listened, you're listening [to] your anthem, you need to feel something in your skin, inside yourself. If you feel that ... I don't know the percent that you are going to give more. But for sure it's one, or five, or 10% more. You are going to have an extra energy, an extra everything, you know, in all the areas that you are going to put on the pitch. If we are capable to feel that, we have the quality and the capacity, we are professional, so professional. Discipline we have. And I think we can find, or we can build a very competitive team.”

This, of course, carries forward reports from Pochettino’s first two camps in charge. “Intensity” has been the buzzword of the early Poch era. When I spoke with Tim Ream for The Guardian earlier this month, he told me this:

“The energy is ramped up, but it's also an intensity of focus, an intensity of a mentality. When training starts, the idea and the thought is we're going to do everything at 100%. We're not going to take anything off. We're not going to hold back. We're going to make sure that we're focusing, and we're trying to be perfect with each touch, each pass, each movement, and doing that with a purpose from the very, very, very beginning of training.”

Diego Luna, who got the deserved start against Costa Rica, certainly took the mandate to heart:

Luna, who had eight goals and eight assists for Real Salt Lake last season, broke his nose early in the second half Wednesday evening in Orlando. Bloodied but undaunted, Luna ran back on the field after a quick change of shirt with plugs in his nose, then promptly assisted Brian White for the first goal of the evening. Luna played out an impressive half, notching six key passes as he showed his creative flair, before subbing off and having surgery after the game.

In the post-match, Pochettino told the TNT crew about his interaction with Luna on the sideline, minutes after his nose was broken. Apparently, Luna asked to stay in the game, before running on and promptly setting up a goal. Poch summarized: “Big balls”.

Luna’s talent is worthy of looks at the senior team level. And while I hope no injuries befall any player in the coming year, I can’t help but feel the immediately iconic incident sets the tone for the year. The ‘brotherhood’ era set a firm foundation. But Pochettino’s intensity era is here.