It’s a rarity to see Yunus Musah with out a smile. An ear-to-ear grin is a mostly-permanent characteristic for the 21-year-old midfielder.
However as he sprinted in the direction of the nook flag on Saturday night time in Austin, Texas, having scored his first aim in a U.S. senior males’s nationwide group jersey in his forty second look, the sense of gratification on his face shined by means of — even for somebody who often has a contented expression plastered on.
“That second,” stated Christian Pulisic, his AC Milan and USMNT teammate who supplied the help, “that’s why you play.”
The Forty ninth-minute aim in a 2-0 pleasant win in opposition to Panama was additionally a direct validation of the instincts of the group’s debuting head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
Musah’s pleasure was clear after his success in his new function (Tim Warner/USSF/Getty Photos for USSF)
The 52-year-old Argentinian got here into his first camp this week meaning to spend time with each participant on the roster and perceive the place they stood. The concept was to make sure every of them was dealt with the best approach. It’s why Weston McKennie stayed on the bench on Saturday night time; he had entered camp feeling some discomfort after taking part in in every of Juventus’ final six video games, and Pochettino felt it was essential to not take any dangers with the midfielder. It was additionally why Musah was examined in a brand new function in his first sport beneath the brand new regime.
Musah reported to camp having performed simply 45 minutes in Serie A for Milan in September and 0 minutes to date in October. Although sometimes a central midfielder solid in a box-to-box No. 8 function, Pochettino met with Musah and proposed deploying him wider on the best. Pochettino knew Musah had performed that function earlier than, each in Arsenal’s academy and in addition when he first moved to Spain’s Valencia 5 years in the past. In that place, Pochettino felt Musah would have extra freedom to push ahead on the ball, one in every of his strengths, with out the pressures of being a focal a part of the build-up at a time when he isn’t taking part in commonly for his membership and thus wasn’t in his greatest type.
It labored to perfection early within the second half, when the U.S. constructed up down their left facet by means of Antonee Robinson, Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson, and Musah got here crashing into the field from the best to complete off a Pulisic cross.
“It’s all the time price attempting to construct his confidence and to (make him) really feel once more (that he’s) a participant that may carry out on the pitch,” Pochettino stated. “It was an essential second for him, to (present) belief in him, however possibly to not give him an excessive amount of duty within the build-up. It’s solely to be able that may assist the group, after which he arrived there and scored.
“Unbelievable for him, implausible for the group. And now possibly he’ll begin to carry out and behave another way, filled with confidence. That’s the essential (issue) in our choice, is attempting to assist. We’re right here to assist the participant to seek out their greatest.”
Pochettino and Pulisic converse throughout the win over Panama (Picture: John Dorton/ISI Images/USSF/Getty Photos)
If there was a theme to the primary night time beneath Pochettino, it was precisely that: creating and constructing confidence. Confidence for every participant, but additionally for a group that was winless in its earlier 4 video games. Copa America group-stage elimination was a crushing expertise for a squad that knew how expectations have been rising and understood how precious a match run would have been on a number of ranges, for them, the fanbase and the game in the US.
Pochettino’s rent was meant to revive a number of the confidence and perception in this system.
Heart again Tim Ream stated Pochettino was “talking about confidence all week”, and that it was strengthened and transmitted into the group by what he was asking the group to do in opposition to Panama. Principally, gamers have been instructed to be themselves, embrace their strengths and, as Musah stated, “play free”.
“He desires us to be strong defensively, after which have guys play the best way they’re snug taking part in and being assured going ahead with the ball,” Ream stated. “And everyone noticed that, particularly within the first quarter-hour. Guys have been transferring, (there was) intricate passing and getting the ball, transferring fast and getting in and round their field. When he tells guys to go and be themselves, it’s an indication that he has confidence in you, and you may see that come out with all the blokes out right here.”
Issues weren’t excellent. Panama had good possibilities within the sport. Matt Turner was pressured into a giant double save within the second half and they need to have discovered an equalizer late within the sport. As USMNT veteran DaMarcus Beasley stated on the Turner Sports activities broadcast, there have been additionally some errors within the build-up that high groups would punish.
However, the U.S. received, with Ricardo Pepi including the second aim in stoppage time.
The end result was wanted, even when this was only a pleasant.
“I appeared again at our current type, and I used to be pondering, ‘Wow, it’s been some time since I’ve received’,” Turner stated. “For the reason that Bolivia sport (at Copa America, on June 23), proper, since we’ve received a sport and had a clear sheet? So, yeah, it’s good to set off this period with a win and a clear sheet. It goes in waves, however profitable is one thing that you just study. You’ll be able to’t simply take it as a right. It takes vitality and focus for 90 minutes, particularly at this degree.”
Pochettino will know that this win was essential in constructing belief and confidence that the concepts he’s putting in with the group will result in success. Musah’s aim strengthened that.
The job now could be to maintain carrying it ahead.
“It’s step one,” Pochettino stated. “To begin to develop and be higher.”
(Prime picture: John Dorton/ISI Images/USSF/Getty Photos)