Within two weeks, America will watch Mauricio Pochettino‘s coveted USMNT debut. After a loss in the Copa America, the US team is meeting Panama again on October 12th Saturday, in Texas. Pochettino will come with a chip on his shoulder, as the USSF would expect him to revitalize the USMNT after it crashed out of the Copa before the knockouts under Gregg Berhalter’s squad. Yet, former USMNT goalie Tony Meola thinks it is safer for Pochettino to bank on the US team’s Copa America squad.

Former US stars Jimmy Conrad, Tony Meola, and Charlie Davis discussed how Mauricio Pochettino’s debut could pan out. Meola expects the Argentine boss to make only minimal changes to the USMNT squad we have witnessed lately. “The first roster call up will be very similar to what we saw. Because it’s a safer bet to do that,” Tony Meola said during his appearance on the Call it What You Want podcast on CBS Sports Golazo.

The ex-USMNT goalie explained that Pochettino and Co. could bring two or three talents from European leagues or the MLS. “If they have some time to go out and scout, some guys maybe in MLS. Maybe other guys in Europe, uh, they might bring one or two,” Meola added. But then again, big USMNT names in the MLS and European leagues have featured in the Copa America.

AC Milan star Christian Pulisic was America’s MVP at the Copa in an abysmal tournament. Bournemouth star Tyler Adams and Juventus’ Weston McKennie too had their say in the USMNT’s Copa roster. Hence, as Meola said, we perhaps will see the Argentine boss field a familiar USMNT squad on Saturday. Meanwhile, Meola hinted that a USMNT insider would prompt Pochettino to explore options that never caught Berhalter’s eye.

Mauricio Pochettino should be open to trying any player, says Meola

Meola stressed that if Mauricio Pochettino is to make many changes to the USMNT’s recent squad, it will be the work of an insider. “I get the sense that it [USMNT squad] will be very similar. If it’s changed, I would think that there’s somebody internally that had a lot of ideas,” said Meola.

He added, “Maybe somebody else that had a lot of ideas that maybe Gregg and his staff didn’t want to utilize.”

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Continuing, the US veteran stressed that the Argentine boss should give everyone a chance if his coaching staff finds talented stars unused in the Berhalter era. “Pochettino should look at everybody right. He shouldn’t close the door on anybody at the moment,” he added.

During the same podcast, fellow US legend Conrad said the former Chelsea boss could start strongly and help the USMNT avenge its Copa loss to Panama. We will have to wait two more weeks to find out.