Mauricio Pochettino makes his first USMNT impression ahead of friendlies; Jurgen Klopp reveals his next job

Happy Wednesday! While we wait for this month’s international games to begin, there’s much to discuss in leadership changes on both sides of the Atlantic. I’m Pardeep Cattry with a midweek check-in.

📺 Footy fix

All times U.S./Eastern

Wednesday, Oct. 9
🇪🇺 UWCL: Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ DAZN
🇪🇺 UWCL: Manchester City vs.Barcelona, 3 p.m. ➡️ DAZN

Thursday, Oct. 10
🇪🇺 UEFA Nations League: England vs. Greece, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ FS2
🌎 WCQ: Venezuela vs. Argentina, 5 p.m. ➡️ Fanatiz
🌎 WCQ: Chile vs. Brazil, 8 p.m. ➡️ Fanatiz
🌎 Concacaf Nations League: Nicaragua vs. Jamaica, 10 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+

⚽ The Forward Line

🇺🇸 First introductions for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino has officially led his first few training sessions as the new head coach of the U.S. men’s national team and with the countdown to his first game underway, he has been focused on learning about his new players as much as he has focused on inducing a new set of ideas.

The Argentine only oversaw his first session with the full team on Tuesday, with Monday serving as a travel day for those who wrapped up club duties on Sunday. Even with the limited amount of time on the pitch, the players have noticed a difference. Defender Antonee Robinson said under Pochettino’s predecessor Gregg Berhalter, Monday sessions were usually light after long haul travel and frequently menat players were on stationary bikes focusing on recovery, but Pochettino led a more intense practice to start this week. Though he has not gotten into detail about his tactical approach just yet, veteran defender Tim Ream notes he has slowly begun to integrate his philosophy into the training sessions.

• Ream: “It’s intense. We had a pretty long session, I’d say one of the longer ones we’ve had with the national team setup so just working on basics, looked at a few things from [Monday’s] training and reviewed that. As a result, they worked in some movement things and connection things with the back line and the midfielders, the attackers all went together and worked on a few things. Just really getting their ideas into our heads and into our understanding to make sure we’re all on the same page going forward.”

High intensity training sessions are arguably a welcome addition to the USMNT’s routine, since Ream said the “intensity falls through the cracks” sometimes in the aftermath of the team’s group stage at the Copa America. They are also a Pochettino staple, but just one part of the introductory process for the new manager. While Robinson accidentally became the first USMNT player to meet Pochettino while Fulham was having a team dinner at Japanese restaurant Clap in the London district of Knightsbridge, where the manager resides, the Argentine has made a point of having one-on-one discussions with his new players, many of whom he’s meeting for the first time.

• Ream: “There were a lot of individual conversations, understanding us as people and they’ve continued throughout. Obviously, I had mine right when I showed up on Sunday and as meals and hours have ticked by, you see certain guys getting pulled to have chats. I think it’s great. They want to get to know us and we want to get to know them. The message is that he wants to win. He has his principles, he has ideas but at the end of the day, it’s about winning and it’s important to have that mentality. It’s important to have that mindset going forward and leading into these games and beyond that.”

A first glimpse at Pochettino’s vision for the national team will come on Saturday, when he coaches his first USMNT game against Panama at Austin’s Q2 Stadium.

Sponsored by Paramount+

🔗  Midfield Link Play

🔴 Jurgen Klopp returns with Red Bull

After several months away from the sport on sabbatical, Jurgen Klopp has officially booked his next gig. The ex-Liverpool manager will become Red Bull’s head of global soccer beginning in January, overseeing the company’s network of clubs including the Bundesliga’s RB Leipzig and MLS’ New York Red Bulls.

Klopp will not be involved in day-to-day operations, but will instead provide input on player development across Red Bull’s portfolio of clubs. The manager’s résumé and expertise makes him a coveted hire though the oversight role is new for Klopp, who spent nearly 25 years on the touchline. He explained that the role allows him not only to take a more laid-back approach, which was the reason why he exited Liverpool last season, as well as learn something new.

• Klopp: “A few months ago, I said I don’t see myself on the sideline anymore and that’s still the case, but I still love football and I still love working and Red Bull gives me the perfect platform for that. I want to share my experience, which I collected over the years. … Then, I want to learn again because when you are in the job and you have to play every three days, you barely have time for that and now I have time and I have the opportunity and I want to see and feel and figure out what is useful for football, developing football a little bit as well.”

The long-term deal with Red Bull, though, does not necessarily rule him out of returning to management. Klopp’s new agreement reportedly has a break clause should the Germany national team job become an option, though that is not a change he is expected to make any time soon. Former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is currently under contract to lead Germany through the 2026 World Cup, extending a short-team deal that was only supposed to last through Euro 2024.

🔗  Top Stories

👏 Iniesta retires: Andres Iniesta, one of the most celebrated and accomplished players of his generation, officially retired from the sport after a 22 year career.

🇺🇸 USMNT progress report: With Folarin Balogun out injured, this could be Josh Sargent’s time to shine but there are a handful of contenders who could make a strong impression. Plus, here’s a glance at how the USMNT’s Italy-based players are faring so far this season.

🔴 Klopp’s major move: Jurgen Klopp’s decision to become Red Bull’s head of global soccer is a big get for the company’s soccer project, both in Germany and elsewhere.

🆕 Berhalter’s next gig: Gregg Berhalter will become the new head coach and sporting director of MLS’ Chicago Fire, lining up his follow-up act after serving as the USMNT boss.

❓ United’s big meeting: Manchester United’s executives had an hours-long meeting on Tuesday where Erik ten Hag’s status may have been discussed, but firing the manager will not magically solve all of the team’s problems.

🇫🇷 Pogba mounts a comeback?: As Paul Pogba nears the end of his doping ban, he will become the latest member of France’s 2018 World Cup winning team to attempt to rehabilitate his career and reputation.

🔴 Saka on Arsenal’s progress: Bukayo Saka is full of praise for Arsenal’s progress on and off the field, commenting on the hype the club receives in a crowded London soccer landscape.

🔵🔴 PSG’s much-needed break: The international break arguably comes at a great time for Paris Saint-Germain, who are winless in two after games against Arsenal and Nice.

💰  The Back Line

💵 Best bets

• UEFA Nations League: England vs. Greece, Thursday, 2:45 p.m.
  💰 THE PICK: Bukayo Saka to score (+140) – England are heavily favored in this match and have a handful of in-form players who will likely find themselves on the scoresheet. That group could include Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who already has three goals in all competitions this season and might have the opportunity to add to his international tally on Thursday.
• CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying: Chile vs. Brazil, Thursday, 8 p.m.

💰 THE PICK: Brazil to win 1-0 (+450) – Brazil may have struggled for consistency so far during this World Cup qualifying campaign and will be without Vinicius Junior on Thursday, but they will be up against a Chile team that’s ninth in South America’s 10 team table. Expect the visitors to get the job done and add another win to the tally, even if the match is not a particularly thrilling watch.

For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t miss out on CBSSports.com’s betting home page.   

📺 What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network

☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans get their day started on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you’ll never have to miss an episode.

3️⃣ Attacking Third (Monday, Thursday): The leading women’s soccer podcast and social brand is now a live studio show. The NWSL season is back and our coverage of the women’s game is stronger than ever. Our analysts will be breaking down the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic season all year long. And don’t miss Wednesday live streams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.

⚽ Call it What You Want (Monday night): A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and friends cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. You can also catch the show streaming live on YouTube every Monday at 11 a.m. ET.

🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest place for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the top soccer competitions and all the can’t-miss goals from the day’s action, starting Thursday and airing seven days a week.

📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.