FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — The omission of central midfielders Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris, especially with Johnny Cardoso already ruled out due to injury, drew criticism when the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup roster was leaked Saturday. After it was officially unveiled on Tuesday, manager Mauricio Pochettino was asked about what his midfield could look like this summer and gave outsiders plenty to ponder in response.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday at a roundtable at U.S. Soccer’s brand-new National Training Center, Pochettino strongly hinted that he’ll deploy just one true No. 6 alongside someone who’s typically been deployed higher up the pitch.
“We think that the capacity of Malik [Tillman] or Weston [McKennie], the position is going a little bit deeper,” Pochettino said. “I think we have better possibility to, in our build up, to have better control and to play much better and to claim the ball easier and to move the ball quick and to have this capacity to put the ball in the last third in a better condition. I think we need to be strong in our defensive side, but also we need players that in front to our center back have the possibility to play and feel comfortable. I think in the way that we understand football, is about to have the quality player on the squad to play.
