United States coach Mauricio Pochettino praised goal-scorer Diego Luna for his “desperate to play” attitude after scoring twice in a 2-1 Gold Cup semifinal win over Guatemala. Luna, 21, showed the team’s hunger and talent, saying it was about “moments” and “fighting to the end.”
Pochettino said Luna was an example of what they want from their athletes: desperation to play for the national team. The coach also praised the U.S. team’s defense after a goal by Guatemala in the 80th minute, calling it “an amazing experience.” The USMNT will face Mexico in Sunday’s Gold Cup final.
Pochettino highlighted the importance of soccer culture and the connection between fans and players. He said the energy from the crowd was an example of what soccer is about: emotion, happiness, and sadness. The coach believes this energy will help his players learn and grow as a team.
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45651118/desperate-diego-luna-leads-usmnt-gold-cup-final