Mauricio Pochettino's odd jab at Tim Weah misread the player and the moment | Leander Schaerlaeckens

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Mauricio Pochettino's recent response to Tim Weah's comments on World Cup ticket prices has sparked concern among fans and players alike. The Argentine manager was caught off guard when asked about the issue during a press conference, but his reaction only added fuel to the fire.

When questioned about Weah's remarks, which expressed disappointment over the high cost of tickets, Pochettino took umbrage with the player's comments. He insisted that it is not players' place to comment on ticket prices, saying they should focus on playing football instead of discussing politics. This stance seems out of touch with reality, as many fans from lower-income backgrounds will struggle to afford a trip to the World Cup.

Weah's comments were a reasonable response to an issue affecting his profession and his ability to connect with fans. By speaking up, he demonstrated maturity and frankness, qualities that have earned him praise from French regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré. In contrast, Pochettino's dismissive attitude has raised questions about the manager's understanding of the fan experience.

This incident highlights a larger issue within the US soccer establishment. Recent efforts to promote player activism and engage with fans have been met with resistance from some quarters. The "Be The Change" campaign, for example, was encouraged by Pochettino's predecessor, Gregg Berhalter, but Pochettino's lukewarm response suggests that he may be out of step with the evolving landscape.

Pochettino's comments also drew parallels with Fifa's own stance on politics. As a Fifa World Cup executive committee member, Pochettino appears to have endorsed the governing body's decision-making process and its relationship with high-profile politicians like Donald Trump. This seems at odds with Weah's more measured approach, which acknowledges that players should engage with fans but also prioritize sports issues.

In conclusion, Pochettino's reaction to Weah's comments has sparked concern about his ability to connect with the fan base and understand the complexities of player activism. As the World Cup approaches, it is essential for US soccer leaders to recognize the changing landscape and adapt their approach to engage fans more effectively.
 
🤔 I mean, come on, Pochettino can't just shut down Weah's comments like that? 🙄 The dude's making a point about something that affects him directly and his fans, and instead of owning it, he's like "focus on football". No, Tim, focus on getting those ticket prices fixed! 😂 And what's with Fifa's politics thing? They can't just ignore the elephant in the room. Weah's trying to be all responsible and informed, but Pochettino's being a bit...out of touch. 🤷‍♂️ The fans deserve better than some manager telling them to pipe down. 👊
 
I gotta say, I'm all for players speaking up about ticket prices... but at the same time, isn't that just gonna be a bunch of noise? Like, can't we just focus on winning the World Cup instead? 🤷‍♂️
But then again, Weah's comments made sense, and it's not like he was being super unreasonable. I mean, players should care about the cost of tickets, 'cause they're the ones who are gonna be affected by it... *sigh* 🤑
I guess what I'm saying is that Pochettino just didn't handle it well. He shoulda taken Weah's comments with a grain of salt and moved on... but instead he made a big deal outta it. Not cool, coach! 😒
And yeah, this whole thing does highlight how divided the US soccer establishment is about player activism. I mean, some people love it, while others are all like "Shh, just play ball!" 🤐
 
OMG you can just feel the condescension radiating from Pochettino's response 🙄 like he's literally saying "you're too poor to understand complex issues" Meanwhile, Weah's comments were a reasonable way for a player to address an issue that affects their livelihood and fans love him for it 💖 It's not about politics or sports issues, it's about the $$$ that comes with playing in the World Cup. The fact that Pochettino is more concerned with maintaining Fifa's status quo than adapting to changing fan expectations is just mind-boggling 🤯
 
I don't think Pochettino's reaction was that out of touch...he was just trying to focus on football 🏟️. But at the same time, I get why Weah was frustrated - those ticket prices are crazy! 💸 It's like, shouldn't players be able to have a say in how fans experience the game? 🤔 Maybe Pochettino just didn't understand the context of the situation...and now it's causing some unnecessary drama 😬. What do you guys think? Should players be more involved in discussing issues with fans or is that not their job? 💬
 
lol what a bunch of hype 🤣 i mean, who does Pochettino think he's talking to here? fans arent just gonna sit back and watch their fave players break the bank just so some rich guy can feel good about himself. weah was right to speak up, it takes balls to call out this stuff. and btw, fifa's all about politics? thats like saying the pope should stick to football 🙄 pichichi would know more about that than anyone on fifa's exec comms.
 
🤔 I gotta say, Pochettino's response is super out of touch 🙄. Players like Weah are trying to have a conversation about an issue that affects them and their fans, but Pochettino just shuts it down 💁‍♂️. Like, what's next? Tellin' players they should just focus on scoring goals instead of talkin' about the state of the game? 🏆 It's not that hard to understand why Weah was frustrated with ticket prices - they're a major barrier for fans who can't afford it 🤑.

And what's up with FIFA's stance on politics anyway? 🤷‍♂️ Pochettino's been silent on this stuff before, but now he's tryin' to tell players what to do? 😒 It's all about control, not about listenin' to the fans and players. The "Be The Change" campaign is all about empowering players to take ownership of their platform, but Pochettino's response just shows that he's more interested in maintainin' the status quo 💼.

Weah might've been a bit too outspoken, but at least he's tryin' to have a conversation 🤗. The real issue is Pochettino's lack of understanding for the fan perspective 👀. He needs to take a step back and listen to what fans are really wantin' from players and coaches 💬.
 
idk why pochettino reacted like that 🤔. weah's just trying to speak up about something thats affecting him & his fans. its not politics, its affordability 🤑. i get what he's saying about focusing on the pitch but come on, players are human too 😊. it feels like fifa is still living in the dark ages 👀. they need to listen to their stars & the fans instead of silencing them with a dismissive attitude 🗣️. maybe pochettino needs to take a step back & understand why weah's comments were reasonable 🤷‍♂️.
 
Dude, what's going on with Pochettino? 🤔 He's trying to shut down Weah for speaking up about ticket prices, but honestly, he's just out of touch 🤑. I mean, come on, the guy's a manager, not some politics expert 🙄. And by saying players shouldn't comment on ticket prices, isn't that like saying they're just there to play footy and forget about the fans? 😒 It's all about connecting with people, man. Pochettino needs to chill out and understand the fan experience 👍. The fact that he's trying to silence Weah is just gonna make things worse 🚫.
 
I think Pochettino's response was a bit off, you know? 🤔 It's like he didn't consider the bigger picture here. The fact that Weah spoke up about ticket prices shows that players are thinking about how they can connect with fans and make a positive impact on their community. As for Pochettino saying it's not players' place to comment on politics... yeah, I think that's a bit naive. Players are human beings too, after all! 🤷‍♂️ They should be able to share their thoughts and opinions without being shushed by their managers.

It's like the establishment is out of touch with what fans want, you know? The "Be The Change" campaign was supposed to be about empowering players to make a difference, but Pochettino's reaction suggests he's not really on board. And let's be real, ticket prices are a major issue for many fans, especially those from lower-income backgrounds. It's time for US soccer leaders to listen to their fans and figure out how they can do better. 👍
 
This whole thing has me thinking 🤔... Players should be able to express themselves without fear of backlash 😬. Tim Weah's comments were legit concerns about ticket prices, you feel? 💸 It's not like he was making a huge political statement 🗣️. And Pochettino's response just seemed really out of touch 😂. As if players should just keep their mouths shut and focus on playing ball ⚽️. But that's not what fans want to hear 👂... We need more leaders like Gregg Berhalter who encourage player activism 🤝. This whole thing is making me wonder if Pochettino's the right guy for the job 🤔.
 
I think Pochettino's response was a bit harsh, you know? 🤔 I get what he's saying about players focusing on the game, but tickets are a big deal for many fans, especially those from lower-income backgrounds who might not have much disposable income. Weah was just speaking up as a player and trying to connect with his fans, which is awesome 😊. Pochettino should've taken it as an opportunity to listen and understand the fans' concerns instead of being all defensive 🙄. It's like, players are part of the team, not separate from the fans, you know? 💬
 
I DON'T THINK POCHETTINO WAS OUT OF TOUCH, HE JUST WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE GAME 🏆 BUT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM WITH TICKET PRICES. WEAH'S COMMENTS WHERE LIKE "HEY, THIS IS A ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ME AND MY TEAMMATES" 🤝 AND POCHETTINO JUST ZONED OUT 🙅‍♂️ I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WEAH WAS WILLING TO SPEAK UP ABOUT IT AND SHOW SOME Maturity 💁‍♂️
 
I gotta say, this whole thing is kinda mind-blowing 🤯. I mean, you'd think that when a pro athlete like Tim Weah speaks up about something that affects his life, it's gonna get some traction with the people in charge. But instead, Pochettino just blows him off and acts like he's out of touch with reality 🙄. It's like, dude, we get it, you're trying to run a football team, but at least acknowledge that players have a right to speak up about stuff that affects us.

And what really gets me is that this isn't just some isolated incident – it's part of a bigger pattern in the US soccer establishment. They're trying to promote player activism and engage with fans, but Pochettino's response is like, totally not on board 🚫. It's like he's stuck in a different era where players just shut up and play ball.

The fact that he drew parallels with Fifa's stance on politics is also super telling 🔍. I mean, if you're gonna be involved in the decision-making process for something as big as the World Cup, you gotta be willing to get your hands dirty and acknowledge the complexities of the situation. But instead, Pochettino just seems to be playing it safe 🤥.

Anyway, this whole thing has me thinking – what does it say about the state of US soccer that we can't even have a basic conversation about ticket prices without someone getting shut down? 🤷‍♂️ It's time for some real change and some leaders who are willing to listen and adapt.
 
Pochettino's response feels like a slap in the face 🤦‍♂️. Like, what exactly is he trying to say? Players shouldn't comment on ticket prices? That's just not how it works. Weah's comments were fair and reasonable 🤝. It's about accessibility for fans who can't afford to go. And now this whole incident is making US soccer leaders look out of touch 💔.
 
🤔 like how "it's not players' place" is just a fancy way of saying "we're gonna charge you an arm and a leg and you can't do anything about it". 🤑 Pochettino's whole vibe right now feels super out of touch with the fans, especially the ones who actually matter. It's like he thinks being a football manager means playing by different rules than everyone else 🙄
 
I think Pochettino needs to get a grip on reality 🤯. I mean, come on, players are human beings too! They have feelings, concerns, and opinions just like everyone else. Weah was right to speak up about the ticket prices - it's not rocket science, but for some people it might as well be 💸. As a parent, I want my kids to feel heard and understood, especially when they're passionate about something (like football). If Pochettino can't understand that, how is he going to connect with his players? 🤔
 
🤔 I'm not sure I agree with Weah's comments on ticket prices tho 🤑 Like, shouldn't we be focusing on winning the thing instead of worrying about how much cash people can shell out? 🏆 That being said, Pochettino's response does come across as a bit tone-deaf... 🙄 I mean, is it really so hard to acknowledge that some fans might struggle to afford a ticket? 🤑 It feels like he's more worried about the players' image than actually listening to their concerns. 💬 Can we get some sources on how much US fans are actually paying for tickets tho? 💸
 
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