Mauricio Pochettino said that โAmerican sports reward losersโ when asked about the style of play in top European nations vs. in the U.S. ๐ฏ๐บ๐ธ
QUESTION: โWe know how England, France, Spain playโฆ Players from countries with a strong tradition have a recognizable style. What is the style of the US team? What kind of football do the Americans want to play?โ
ANSWER: โTheir culture is playful. They want to play. We told them, โGuys, playing soccer is one thing, competing is another.โ Theyโre two completely different sports. They grow up in a culture of playing. Why? If you start in MLS and you havenโt won a game in three months and youโre at the bottom, whatโs the consequence if thereโs no promotion or relegation, no international competition? American sports reward losers! But soccer is different: if you reward those who donโt winโฆ If you donโt have goals, you donโt fight. If I lose, what happens? Nothing. They just fire the coach. Also, the American player is disciplined. But with a sense of complacency that isnโt good in soccer. It took us a year and a half to change that mentality.โ
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