'No excuses': Pochettino refuses to blame Balogun furore on loss to Belgium

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]USA[/a] were second best against their European opponents in Seattle on Monday, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-ketelaere-charles/2eOa3r1T/"]Charles De Ketelaere[/a] scored twice whilst Hans Vanaken and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukaku-romelu/dCkG0Iw0/"]Romelu Lukaku[/a] took advantage of defensive blunders to see their side into the quarter-finals.[/p][p]It brought the co-host's tournament to a humbling close, despite having the hopes of a nation that they could go far at this World Cup.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pochettino-mauricio/zuJM7XDg/"]Pochettino[/a] was honest in his assessment of the game, admitting his side never really got going, but there was no need to blame it on the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Balogun[/a] furore.[/p][p]The striker had been reinstated to the team despite a straight red card in their win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia & Herzegovina[/a] in the round of 32, after FIFA's independent disciplinary committee decided to put him on probation rather than serve the suspension immediately.[/p][p]Speaking about the distraction that it may have played during his team's defeat, Pochettino insisted: "I think we were not good enough today, we don’t need to find another excuse.[/p][p][b]"...Today, we were not the same team as we were in the tournament. It is a very bad day for everyone; we need to accept that this happens, but in a World Cup, we have no second chance. We are out; we need to accept that."[/b][/p][image alt="USA - Belgium match momentum" id="119c6436-c2d4-4905-bf49-dddb9d0fba7e" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="3ab9d375-15aa-4bda-a67a-160e3dad5978" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Despite the defeat, Pochettino feels he has overseen a rise in the USMNT, but wasn't non-comittal when asked whether he would be the man in charge when the next World Cup rolls around in four years' time.[/p][p]He explained: "The improvement or to grow is not like you are in a rocket and you improve and you go like this (he mimics a rocket). One year ago, before the Gold Cup, no one believed we would be playing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a], a contender of the World Cup.[/p][p][b]"...I think, now, we need to rest, to have conversation and then to see what the decision is from the federation. I am happy, we build a good relationship (with the federation). In the next weeks, we can start to talk if the federation wants to talk."[/b][/p][p]The Balogun saga cast a large shadow on the loss, one that Pochettino didn't feel had any sway on the result, but he said that he was let down by 'people' who wanted to mix the sporting issue and make it a political one.[/p][p]He mused: "(I am) so frustrated with the people, who mix the things. In these situations, it didn’t affect our performance, it is not an excuse.[/p][p][b]"It wasn’t our day, but in a personal way, what is the point to receive bad messages, threats if my position is I am the head coach. [/b][/p][p][b]"It is a rule that for the federation it is possible to make the player available. My job is to train the team, if you have a player like Balogun available, it is not a problem. I feel disappointed with so many people, because they mix things."[/b][/p][p]He did not say who the individuals who disappointed him, but the president of the United States, Donald Trump, had been interviewed earlier in the day, claiming that he made an impact on the decision to reinstate the striker, who did not score in the match, back to the lineup after a personal call with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.[/p][p]In a statement, Infantino reitereated the independence of the disciplinary committee and insisted that the call from President Trump had had no sway on the outcome.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-justice-served-as-belgium-have-last-laugh-to-dump-out-co-hosts-usa/dxs5ErVI/"]Read more analysis from the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="79bb87c6-d26e-46c2-b1ec-7eec56479c0a" /]