Tyler Adams admits USMNT 'different' under Mauricio Pochettino as change noticed

 For the first time under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is back at a U.S. Men’s National Team camp.

With the team's CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama just days away, with a spot in the final against either Mexico or Canada on the line, the 26-year-old admitted it felt “good to be back.” “Had a bunch of different managers in my career, and now to be able to work with another great one like Mauricio is a huge honor,” Adams told reporters on Tuesday. “I'm excited to understand the processes and his thinking and the way that he looks at the game.”

For the first time under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is back at a U.S. Men’s National Team camp.

With the team's CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama just days away, with a spot in the final against either Mexico or Canada on the line, the 26-year-old admitted it felt “good to be back.” “Had a bunch of different managers in my career, and now to be able to work with another great one like Mauricio is a huge honor,” Adams told reporters on Tuesday. “I'm excited to understand the processes and his thinking and the way that he looks at the game.”

That being said, given Adams’ experience in the Premier League against Pochettino’s Chelsea side, the former RB Leipzig star added that he is familiar with the Argentine’s style of play.

While Adams’ time in a Pochettino camp is limited so far, this hasn’t prevented him from already noticing some subtle differences compared to life under his predecessors. "It does feel different," he said. "We've had a few conversations and kind of just the way he communicates with people and the way he's spoken about the game, you could tell we're just trying to build an important culture into the team.

“Yeah, I think that's the goal. There's transparency, there's a few things that he really, really values. Things being respect, respect your teammates, staff, all the support staff, every single person that makes these opportunities possible. We have a very, very good team here and a very, very good support team here. So it's about supporting each other in the right way and continue to grow.”

This growth is all in aid of their preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be held in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, something Adams noted during his press conference. “Before we know it, we're going to blink and the World Cup is going to be here,” he said. “So, we want to take every training session, every opportunity that we have together with significance and continue to build.”

As for Pochettino, he recently described Adams as “an important player” for the USMNT, also calling him “a very good player.” The former Tottenham Hotspur boss said that the Finals would be "a good opportunity for us to feel him, to see him."

He continued: "It's great to have him again. The last month, he was performing really, really well with his team, Bournemouth. I think this is an opportunity. And for us, it's a great opportunity to know him."

Adams’ first shot at action under Pochettino will come on Thursday when the team kicks off against Panama at 7 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in California. The third-place game will then be held on Sunday at 6 p.m., followed by the final at 9:30 p.m.