Pochettino insists the USA's loss to Belgium can be used as a catalyst for improvement

[p]The World Cup co-hosts suffered a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/usa-fuitL4CF/?mid=AkzS6uae"]5-2 defeat ‌in a friendly international[/a] in Atlanta and face another stern test of their ability at ‌the same venue on Tuesday when they go up against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a].[/p][p]It ‌was only the fifth time in four decades that the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]US[/a] has conceded ‌five goals in a game, but Pochettino insisted it was better ‌to lose heavily in a pre-World Cup warm-up game than once the tournament kicks off in June.[/p][p][b]“I see this as a good check reality for us, because ‌now is the moment to feel this type ⁠of situation, to improve. We need ‌to improve, of course,” [/b]he told reporters.[/p][p][b]“It’s only a game. It’s only a ​game where nothing went for us. I’m disappointed with the result, but seeing the performance, we cannot say the players didn’t ​perform.”[/b][/p][embed guid="243b193d-e924-4dae-809f-afb2f44c82a2" url="https://x.com/USMNT/status/2038006849371316435" social-type="twitter" /][p]The US coach said it would be hard to convince fans there were positives to take from the loss but added: “To feel sometimes the ⁠pain is good.”[/p][p][b]“I think ​there were many positive things and with all these types of results, it is better it is going to happen now."[/b][/p][p]The US did play without key defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/richards-chris/fVGFlDh2/"]Chris Richards[/a] and central midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adams-tyler/CWnkAe9t/"]Tyler Adams[/a], who are both ‌injured, and as a result lacked bite at times.[/p][p][b]“We were not aggressive enough,”[/b] Pochettino added.[b] "But the moment we matched the intensity of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a], we were even or better. The problem was to keep that intensity.”[/b][/p][embed guid="6900ba18-3009-4ae0-befd-b52565308ce5" url="https://x.com/USMNT/status/2038020811291001053" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Americans did have chances and especially pivotal was a miss in front of goal from captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pulisic-christian/vTuaEfRq/"]Christian Pulisic[/a]. After weaving his way into position with a sublime display of skill, he shanked his effort well wide with the goal at his mercy.[/p][p]Belgium immediately went down the other end ‌and took a 2-1 lead after the US had opened the scoring.[/p][p][b]“It’s ​frustrating for me, it’s been a tough patch. But I feel ‌confident in the way I’m playing,”[/b] Pulisic said.[/p][p]He is likely to be one of the key players for the US, whose World Cup gets underway on June 12 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] in Los Angeles.[/p][p][b]“I’m creating chances. So I just have to stay positive and keep ⁠going,” [/b]he said.[/p][p]The Americans are co-hosting ⁠the World Cup, which runs ‌from June 11-July 19, with Canada and Mexico.[/p]