Pochettino slams Jorge Sánchez handball: “If it happened in the other box, it’d be a penalty”
Mexico defeated the United States on Sunday in a thrilling Gold Cup final, but the match was full of drama from start to finish. Team USA struck first early in the game, only for El Tri to respond with an equalizer before halftime—and eventually seal a 2–1 win with a late goal.
One of the most controversial moments came in the 66th minute, with the score tied at 1–1. Maximilian Arfsten tried to break into the box, and while Jorge Sánchez defended well, the ball bounced forward and as Sánchez lost balance, he placed his hand on the ball. The U.S. players appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved it off.
Just eleven minutes later, Edson Álvarez scored the winning goal in the 77th minute, clinching the title for Mexico.
Pochettino: “If that happened in Mexico’s box, it’s a penalty”
In the post-match press conference, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino addressed the controversy and suggested the decision might have gone differently had the incident occurred at the other end of the field.
“I’m not going to cry,” he began. “I just want to tell the truth—and the truth is, if that exact same thing had happened in the other box, it’s a penalty. No question.”
He elaborated further:
“We’re not here to debate the rules. Is it a soft penalty? Sure. But it’s still a penalty. The player was on one knee and placed his hand on the ball—the hand didn’t start on the ground and get hit by the ball. That’s a big difference.”
Respect for Mexico and a Nod to the Fans
Pochettino took a moment to congratulate Mexico and coach Javier Aguirre on their Gold Cup victory.
“Congratulations to Mexico and Aguirre for winning the Gold Cup. They worked hard like we did. The one who wins always deserves the respect of those who don’t.”
He also commented on the atmosphere at NRG Stadium, where more than 70,000 fans attended—but the majority supported Mexico.
“When you have the crowd behind you, it lifts your energy on the field. But when it’s against you, it drains you. I think the team felt that in the last few games. We played well and had a strong tournament, but things could’ve been different if we had more support.”
“If it had been the other way around—if there had been 50,000 fans backing us—it would have been a different game. But it is what it is.”