US coach Pochettino recently stated that he would not sing the US national anthem.
As the World Cup finals are about to begin, Mauricio Pochettino has a clear distinction regarding his responsibilities as the head coach of the US men's national football team. On the one hand, the Argentine said he would not sing the national anthem of the much-criticized co-host; on the other hand, he also hopes to represent the country well.
Pochettino's team will play Paraguay in Los Angeles at 9:00 AM Beijing time (CEST) on June 13. In an interview, he said: "I only represent the United States through sports. That's what I get paid for. I won't sing the national anthem. But I will do my best to represent this country in a dignified way."
Pochettino hopes to keep the team away from political discussions surrounding President Trump's administration. The 54-year-old Pochettino said: "We are all sensitive to injustice in the world. No one wants violence in the world, and everyone wants everyone to be happy and have enough food. But our task is to prepare a team for the World Cup."
Speaking of his expectations for the World Cup, Pochettino said he hopes to "bring positive emotions": "Closeness, joy, hope, love, and empathy. Football can unite people of different cultures, religions, and skin colors. Our responsibility is to connect each other, not to create more hatred. Coaches and players must convey constructive signals, not destructive ones. In this way, those who can truly change things can understand through us that there is another way."