USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino jumped to the defence of Brendan Aaronson when quizzed about the player tying the knot during the side pre-season camp in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Aaronson’s wedding had reportedly been scheduled long in advance, to be held on the 30th of May, after he was originally informed that the training would begin on camp wouldn’t begin until June.
Pochettinho congratulated the youngster, and touched up on the evolution in the sport in terms of considerations over players’ personal life.
“It’s a question that, as human beings it’s always important to us, and I completely understand that players need to plan their life and their family. I know the type of player that he is, professional and it is a good thing,
something to celebrate with the teammate,” Poch said.
“It’s a thing that gives energy and provides energy to the team.”
“Maybe in the past, when I was a player it was impossible. And from my coaches impossible. Impossible! ‘I don’t care, I don’t care about you, I don’t care about your kids.’ It’s true. I can tell many stories. But things have evolved,” he reflected.
“I think the only thing you can get is the best for him: more commitment, more enthusiasm, more energy, more of everything,” the USA gaffer said.
“Today, being a leader is not like it was in the past. Now it’s about evolution of the human. The leader needs to [seem] more human than in the past. I think we were happy, he was happy, his family was happy. He right now is happy. I think we need to live with that,” he concluded.
