Shaq Moore Defends Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT Roster Decisions

Shaq Moore has experience playing in all of the big games for Team USA in the World Cup.

The 29-year-old FC Dallas right-back was a member of the 2022 Team USA squad. 

Moore helped lead the United States to the Round of 16 before they fell to the Netherlands.

Fast forward to the present day, and there are higher expectations with a more loaded roster. Add in the fact that the United States is hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994, and all eyes are on Team USA this time around.

The current roster has multiple players who were a part of the last squad, including Christian Pulisic, captain Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, Miles Robinson and Sergino Dest. However, they will be led by a new coach, Mauricio Pochettino, who took over the program in 2024.

Moore has familiarity with Pochettino, having been involved in a few camps under the 54-year-old's lead.

"I think off the bat he demands the respect," said Moore in a one-on-one interview. 

"Coaching some of the best teams in the world, some of the biggest teams in the world, when he walks in, you know that he demands a lot of respect, you know you can trust him, you know that his methods work. Apart from that, he's Argentinian, so he has that kind of fight, that grit, that all Argentineans kind of play for. He really instils that in the team, whether that's in practice, whether that's in games, intensity is first and foremost. And then with the ball, he kind of gives you a lot of freedom, right?" 

"He'll put you in positions structurally, then apart from there, he kind of gives you a lot of freedom to play the game," Moore continued. 

"When you're with him, you can see why he's coached some of the best teams in the world, so nothing but good things to say about him."

Shaq Moore On Team USA Hiring Pochettino

Pochettino has coached some of the biggest and best teams in Europe, including the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. 

He's won a Ligue 1 Title and led Tottenham to their first Champions League Final.

The hope is that Pochettino's personality can help lead Team USA to their deepest finish ever. 

The furthest they've advanced is the quarterfinal. Moore plays up the "intensity" that Pochettino coaches with.

"I think any time you hire a guy like Pochettino, it's never a bad decision," said Moore. 

"As you said, that intensity that he kind of comes with, I definitely see him instilling that in the squad. They may have lacked that at times, especially in the last couple of games. But I think they will bring it all together during the World Cup, especially that fight, that grit, and he has all the experience in the world to get it done."

In other World Cup-related news, France 1998 winner Frank Leboeuf has weighed in on the captaincy debate, saying he would have preferred either William Saliba or N’Golo Kanté to be handed the armband over Kylian Mbappé.

Moore Downplays Pochettino's Roster Decision Via Email

Pochettino received some flak for not only some of his roster decisions, but also his decision to notify those who didn't make the 26-man roster via email rather than a phone call.

Moore said he didn't really have much of an issue with it and said that every coach is different.

"Every coach is different, man," said Moore. 

"Some coaches kind of prefer that. Other coaches will give you a call, so it kind of depends. I don't think it's the right or wrong way to do it. Gregg Berhalter (the former Team USA coach) would call us sometimes, or you would say, 'You're in, or you're out.' Pochettino's ideas are just a little bit different if he preferred just to email. 

"I don't necessarily think there's a right or wrong way," Moore continued. 

"I think that a call or an email saying that you're not going is always going to be difficult. Either way, it's better to get some closure from the coach. But sometimes it goes like that. You just kind of have to take it on the chin and kind of move on."

Two notable names that were expected to be on the 26-man roster, Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann, were left off of it. While many were surprised by the decision, Moore says you should always expect one or two notable names to be left off of the final roster.

"You kind of always kind of expect there might be one or two names that maybe you thought they were in, that kind of weren't in, but nothing really surprises me in soccer," said Moore. 

"You kind of just kind of take it as it comes. You kind of try to deal with it, move on, but yeah, definitely feel for those guys. Obviously, not being a part of this one, it's kind of tough, but having had that experience from the last one, that's kind of the game. You just have to be thankful for the opportunity that you have had and move forward."