Mauricio Pochettino agrees deal with new team after Chelsea exit

Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the new head coach of the United States national team, according to reports.

The United States have been looking for a new head coach after sacking Gregg Berhalter last month following the team’s group-stage exit at the Copa America earlier this summer.

Pochettino, meanwhile, has been out of a job since he left Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of last season.

In his only season at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino guided Chelsea to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, the semi-final of the FA Cup and the final of the Carabao Cup, where they were beaten by Liverpool.

According to The Athletic, the Argentine was made a ‘top target’ by the United States and he has now agreed to become Berhalter’s replacement.

Pochettino had also been in named in the running to become England’s next manager following Gareth Southgate’s decision to step down last month.

The 52-year-old, who has also managed Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, has not coached a national team.

Following Pochettino’s exit at Stamford Bridge in May, Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson aired his frustration over the club’s decision to part ways with the Argentine.

In an interview before the end of the season, Chelsea’s talisman Cole Palmer also made it clear that the squad were fully behind Pochettino.

‘Chelsea are a big club, everyone wants to finish higher than sixth but you have to look at where we were at the start of the season, throughout the season, we’ve been 13th, 12th. Last season obviously was the same,’ Palmer said.

‘So to get back into Europe is a step in the right direction.

‘Big credit to the manager because all the players love the manager and they want to fight for him. We’re just gelling now and everyone can see that.’

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