Pochettino Exalts Keylor Navas: Epic Duel in Gold Cup Quarterfinals

In the preview of the crucial Gold Cup quarter-final match between the United States and Costa Rica, the US national team coach, Mauricio Pochettino, did not skimp on praise for the Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

An Expected Reunion

Pochettino, who coached Navas at Paris Saint-Germain during the 2021-22 season, highlighted the quality and mentality of the goalkeeper, calling him “one of the best in the world.” During his time at PSG, Navas and Pochettino achieved a domestic double. The Argentine coach fondly remembered his time at the Parisian club, where they both shared a locker room.

My memory with Keylor is incredible. We always admire him, his mentality and his quality. It will be a fantastic moment to share tomorrow with him. He is a great player, a great goalkeeper, one of the best in the world.

Mauricio Pochettino

Navas, currently at Newell’s Old Boys, the same club where Pochettino began his career as a player, will be a rival to beat in the quest for the semi-finals. The American strategist anticipates a complicated match against Costa Rica, a historically difficult rival for the USMNT, with a record of 20 wins, 17 losses, and 6 draws.

Mauricio Pochettino and Keylor Navas shared 18 months at Paris Saint-Germain.Pochettino expects an aggressive and combative Costa Rican team, anticipating a physical and demanding encounter. To counter this intensity, the coach emphasized the importance of matching and surpassing the opponent’s aggression. The midfield presents a challenge for Pochettino due to the injury of Johnny Cardoso, who did not train on Saturday. This could lead the coach to choose between Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter and Luca de la Torre, without ruling out the possibility of fielding all three players. Pochettino trusts his team, despite the important absences due to injury, commitments with clubs and fatigue. Costa Rica, for its part, will not be able to count on its top scorer of the tournament, Manfred Ugalde, nor on Joseph Mora due to accumulation of yellow cards. In addition, Jeyland Mitchell, Ariel Lassiter and Warren Madrigal are injured.