ATLANTA — As March camp gets underway, Sebastian Berhalter and Brenden Aaronson stressed the intensity, competition, and accountability within the United States men’s national soccer team ahead of a challenging weekend slate against Belgium and Portugal
Both players highlighted the mindset required in camp, with roster spots still up for grabs as the team builds toward the World Cup.
With a deep pool of talent competing for limited roster spots, both players emphasized the importance of focusing on daily improvement rather than comparing themselves to others. The mindset, as described during the presser, is simple: take it one day at a time and contribute to the team in any way possible, both mentally and physically.
“We’re taking it one day at a time. I don’t think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The guys are putting in the work — it’s been a good couple of days and we’re just trying to build on each day. We believe in what we’re doing and we want to stick to that.” — Sebastian Berhalter
“I would say the same. The group has been really focused, really ready to go. What I see most is that we’re taking these two games really seriously — really good opponents, so we know how we’re going to have to match up against them and be on our A game. We’re really looking forward to it. I can see everybody is really focused and really wanting to do well, of course for themselves.” — Brenden Aaronson
That same mentality carries into match play, with players making it clear that all upcoming games are being approached with full intensity. Despite being labeled as “friendlies,” Brenden Aaronson — echoing comments from Cristian Roldan earlier in the week — stressed that these are “real matches,” serving as opportunities to test themselves against top international competition.
“Those are the moments you relish — playing against some of the best in the world. Those are the games you want to be in. You want to play in those games and test yourself. You want to go out there and fight, compete and show that you belong. I think for both of us it’ll be a good test. Brenden plays against those guys week to week, so for me it’ll be a good challenge too.” — Sebastian Berhalter
“Like Seb said, I’m not seeing too much different from the other camps in the fall. The big thing is we’ve taken these games really, really seriously. Even though they’re friendlies, we’ve treated them like actual World Cup games. Last camp I really felt it in the Paraguay and Uruguay games — those felt like real matches. You could probably tell from the intensity after those games. That’s what we need for Belgium and Portugal. We’re going to treat them like this and get ready for the World Cup. Being part of that Gold Cup team is something I’ll never forget — the group of guys, the banter, the great times. We went to like 10 or 12 different cities. For me personally, even when I wasn’t playing, I just kept getting better every day. I worked on my finishing, my ball retention, lifted as much as I could. I’ve been with the national team a long time now so I just try to help the guys and do the best I can.” — Brenden Aaronson
For Aaronson, this current cycle with USMNT represents a significant step forward in his development. He reflected on his experience compared to the 2022 World Cup cycle and acknowledged the growth he has gone through both physically and mentally. He would also also emphasize that this time around, he is much stronger and more prepared for the demands of international play as opposed to being a 21-22 year old player.
“Four years ago in Saudi, looking back at those games, I feel like we were probably a little under pressure. We had a lot of guys that were young — it was our first World Cups together and you wanted to get on the team, so that was always in the back of your head. But we’ve grown a ton. There’s a lot of guys that were a part of that one and now we’re in this one, and we’ve taken a lot from the last World Cup. We know what it’s like, and that’s really great to have.” — Brenden Aaronson
“From the last World Cup, I was young — maybe 21 or 22. I was more naive in football terms. You learn so much in a four year period of professional football. You go through so many ups and downs. Mentally I’m much stronger than I was before. And it helps that I’m having a great season — I’ve got to continue to push on with that and take the confidence I’ve been having. With the group, we’ve been through the World Cup together, gone through the losses and the wins. It’s a great group. The newer guys have come in and they’ve been fantastic. We need to keep building as a group and take the experience we had and keep going — Brenden Aaronson
“Throughout the last four years there have been ups and downs — going to Leeds, going to Union Berlin, then going back to Leeds. That’s football, you know, you have to get through it. I’ve had downs, but I’m proud of myself for how I’ve stuck through it and kept fighting. That’s something I always do and it’s shaped me into the player I am now. When you’re waiting for that call, you’re second guessing yourself, thinking did I do enough? But you stay confident and know you put yourself in the best position. When you finally get the call it’s one of the best things in the world and something I’ll always remember.” — Brenden Aaronson
Berhalter would echo a similar sentiment, pointing to the environment within camp as competitive but supportive amongst teammates and staff. While the stakes are high, he notes that head coach Pochettino has encouraged players to stay true to themselves, reinforcing a balance between performance and confidence.
“It doesn’t feel like there’s this big anxiety over everyone. It feels similar to the fall camps — we want to represent our country to the best of our ability. There hasn’t felt that extra pressure. Mauricio has told us how much these games mean, but he also keeps it real. He still wants us to be ourselves and perform. Reflecting on how many guys from the Gold Cup are still with this team — it shows how important that tournament was and how much trust he put in us. That’s something we’re both really thankful for.” — Sebastian Berhalter
The message throughout camp continues to align with Pochettino’s overall approach. Players are very self aware at the fact that no role in the roster is guaranteed/ With each training camp session and match serving as an evaluation, the focus has been on this entire squad remaining consistent and putting their best effort forward while making the most of every opportunity.
The United State Men’s National Soccer Team will carry that mentality and grit into match action this weekend when they face Belgium’s national football team in Atlanta.