United States men's national team forward Folarin Balogun said that if he had a vote, Mauricio Pochettino would stay on as team manager.
Pochettino's departure to take over Manchester United is only awaiting the official announcement after United fired Michael Carrick on Thursday, clearing the way for the last formalities to take place.
The plan remains for Pochettino to still manage the USMNT's upcoming matches against Haiti in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League.
The first leg -- which counts as the home leg for Haiti -- is on Saturday in Miami, with the return leg set for three days later in Cincinnati.
U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said, "We haven't heard anything yet," as it relates to Pochettino's likely departure. But both Balogun and Berhalter have praised the impact that the Argentine has had on their respective careers.
"If I had a vote, I would like to keep things the way they are," Balogun said during Thursday's news conference. "I think things have been working well. We have a clear sense of identity. We have a clear playing style.
"And I think whenever you have a top coach, you'd want him to stay. It's a no-brainer. So I think for us it's no different."
While Balogun's time with the USMNT predates Pochettino's arrival, Berhalter's international career begun after Pochettino took over in September of 2024.
"He's meant so much to me and he's helped me develop as a player and as a person," Berhalter said about Pochettino.
"And as a player, that's all you can ask for, to have that trust and have that belief in you. And for me, it's easy to go out there and just do my job. So yeah, he's meant a big deal to me for sure."
Balogun's time with the USMNT predates Pochettino's arrival, and included the 2024 Copa América when the U.S. crashed out in the group stage.
Balogun credited Pochettino with improving the team's mindset, and raising the overall performance level.
"I think the benefit and the blessing when you have a great coach is the standard," Balogun said.
"I think Poch has definitely raised the standard since he's been in charge. I think you guys have seen that just the intensity of training, how we approach games," he said.
"He's changed our way of thinking as players from calling the friendlies that we have in certain camps, official games, not official games. He wants us to just be of a mindset to go out there and win.
"I think he's laid the foundation and I think us as players have that ownership to not just do that because Poach was in charge. I think we have the ownership as players to carry that out because we know the standards. So yeah, I think that's the benefit of having a top coach. And I'm sure whether he is here, whether he is not, the U.S. will look to replace him with another top coach."
Dealing with possible coaching departures and other outside noise is part of what professional players deal with.
Berhalter said nothing will change in terms of how the U.S. team will prepare. He added that over the course of his career, he's had to train his mind to tune out distractions.
"I think it just comes with practice, a practice of just doing the little things right," Berhalter said.
"And for me personally, I have a process that I go through and I have a routine. And for me that doesn't change regardless of what team I'm on or who's a coach or who we're playing.
"I think it's important to keep those processes and routines. And I've worked hard to build those up throughout my career. So yeah, I think I just keep doing what I've been doing."