'I never talked to them' - USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino denies reports that he interviewed with Premier League club Brentford

Mauricio Pochettino USMNT vs Switzerland

The Argentinian coach says he was never in contact with the club amid reports out of Europe

Saudi Arabia v United States - Gold Cup 2025

WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has denied reports that he was recently interviewed by Premier League side Brentford.

Ahead of the USMNT's Gold Cup quarterfinal against Costa Rica on Sunday, reports emerged out of Ireland that Pochettino had interviewed with the English side. The 42 reported that Pochettino was among those whom Brentford spoke to before hiring Irish boss Keith Andrews.

Speaking to Fox Sports, Pochettino denied that an interview had ever taken place, saying: "This club never contacted me. I never talked to them."

Mauricio Pochettino, USA vs Switzerland

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Brentford aren't the only club Pochettino has been linked to in recent weeks. Coincidentally, before former Brentford boss Thomas Frank took the Tottenham job, Pochettino was linked with a return to his former club. He swiftly denied those rumors following the USMNT's loss to Turkey on June 8.

"Since I left in 2019, for the position of the manager or the head coach, my name has been appearing on every list!" he said on Saturday. "If you are seeing the rumors I’ve seen, there are 100 coaches on their list! Don't be worried about that. If something happened, you will see, but we cannot talk about this type of thing."

He added, "Today, it's not realistic. Look at where I am, where we are, and I think is the answer is so clear."

Malik Tillman USMNT vs Haiti HIC

DID YOU KNOW?

Pochettino, who took over as USMNT boss in the fall, has amassed an 8-5-0 record. The U.S. won each of their group stage games at this ongoing Gold Cup, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti.

Patrick Agyemang USMNT vs Haiti

WHAT NEXT FOR POCHETTINO?

Pochettino and the U.S. will look ahead to the Gold Cup knockout stages, starting with Sunday's quarterfinal match against Costa Rica in Minneapolis.