Pochettino defends USMNT stars after Gilberto Mora disrespect claims

Mauricio Pochettino dismissed claims that USMNT players Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman disrespected Mexico's Gilberto Mora, calling the controversy a misunderstanding. He defended his players ahead of the USA-Mexico match on Saturday, Oct. 3. Pochettino explained that Tillman's laughter was a deferral to Adams, as Tillman dislikes press interactions, not a sign of disrespect toward the 17-year-old Mora. He stressed that while the on-field rivalry is fierce, off-field respect remains intact, and no federation member intended any slight. Mora, a rising star for Mexico, has already become a key part of El Tri's squad at the 2025 Gold Cup and 2026 World Cup despite his young age. The incident stemmed from a press conference on Friday, Oct. 2, where the pair's laughter was misinterpreted online.