Poch: USMNT Gold Cup lessons 'priceless, painful'

HOUSTON -- United States manager Maurico Pochettino stated his squad had learned "priceless" lessons contempt a "painful" 2-1 loss to rivals Mexico during Sunday's Gold Cup final.

The Americans took a 1-0 pb successful the 4th infinitesimal astatine a sold retired NRG Stadium acknowledgment to a header from Chris Richards, earlier allowing 2 goals from Mexico done Raúl Jiménez successful the 27th infinitesimal and a game-winner from Edson Álvarez successful the 77th minute.

"It's a monolithic acquisition for us, I deliberation it's priceless," Pochettino said aft the match. "I deliberation it was an astonishing tourney to recognize successful the mode that we wanted to grow...[but it's also] a nighttime that is simply a very, precise achy night, due to the fact that erstwhile you suffer a trophy, oregon you suffer a game, it's really, truly painful.

"But the astir important happening is to person our heads up."

During the post-game media availability, the Argentine manager besides shared his frustrations with a non-penalty successful the 2nd fractional aft a shot landed nether Mexico fullback Jorge Sanchez's thenar portion falling to the ground.

"The information was that if that happened successful the other half, successful the different box, for definite it's a penalty," Pochettino said. "The subordinate was with a genu connected the floor, helium pushed the manus implicit the ball. It's not that the manus was [already] connected the floor, and the shot touched.

"For me, it was embarrassing to spot that concern and it's a shame. I recognize that possibly 70,000 radical [in the stands], you know, giving this penalty, it's not easy."

Regarding the bulk Mexico assemblage successful Houston, the U.S. manager besides pleaded for much enactment successful stands up of the World Cup that the U.S. volition co-host adjacent twelvemonth with Mexico and Canada.

"I deliberation we request the people. We request the fans. The fans person 1 twelvemonth to recognize however important are the fans successful soccer," said Pochettino. "How important are the fans to beryllium successful the stadium, to enactment with the team, to support, not lone done Instagram, societal media oregon done down the team. It's to beryllium present and construe the energy."

On the winning broadside successful Houston, Mexico manager Javier Aguirre was thrilled, and admittedly tired, aft helping El Tri win their 10th Gold Cup title.

"It gives america confidence, it gives america vigor for the future, for what's coming," said Aguirre, who besides manager Mexico to the Nations League rubric earlier this year. "There's nary much authoritative matches, lone friendlies, and we request to proceed looking for players for the World Cup."

The U.S. has won the Gold Cup 7 times to Mexico's 10, and the 2 teams person won a combined 16 retired of the past 17, with El Tri successfully defending the trophy it won implicit Panama successful the 2023 final.