USMNT Coach Criticizes Referee in Gold Cup Final Loss to Mexico

U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino criticized referee Mario Escobar after his team's 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup final. Pochettino was unhappy with decisions that he felt favored Mexico, including a controversial handball no-call against defender Jorge Sánchez. Despite an early lead from Chris Richards' goal, Mexico secured the win with Edson Álvarez's 77th-minute goal, initially ruled offside but allowed after a review.

Pochettino expressed frustration at the officiating, particularly regarding the handball incident involving Sánchez. He believed that if the same situation had occurred in Mexico's box, a penalty would have been awarded. The coach emphasized the importance of truth and fairness in his post-match comments, highlighting the impact of the controversial decisions on the final result.

Pochettino's team, missing key players, showed promise throughout the tournament but ultimately fell short in the final. Despite the disappointment, Pochettino remained optimistic about the team's growth and competitiveness leading up to the upcoming World Cup on home soil.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity to defeat their regional rival, Pochettino lamented the contentious goals scored by Mexico and questioned the validity of Álvarez's goal due to an offside position by Cesar Montes. The coach acknowledged the pain of losing but emphasized the importance of resilience and determination in building towards future success.