‘He’s Very Special’: What Mauricio Pochettino has Learned about Malik Tillman

Malik Tillman is a soft-spoken man of few words. He’d rather listen than occupy the conversation. When USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino arrived less than one year ago, there was a gap between the two, and not just because English is neither of their first languages.

Pochettino didn't know Tillman very well, and Tillman's reserved nature meant the two needed more time to get to know each other, especially since an injury kept Tillman away from international play early in the year.

Recently in preparation for the Concacaf Gold Cup, the two have gotten on the same page, and Tillman is starting to find his stride. In the span of three matches this month, Tillman notched his first international assist and his first two goals. He scored a brace in the first half of the USA’s opening Gold Cup match against Trinidad and Tobago, contributing to the 5-0 victory.

“I really started to understand him, and he started to understand us, and he’s very special,” Pochettino said. “[He’s] a very special talent, very special kid. ...We are all in love with him.”

Tillman, 23, made his debut for the National Team in 2022 and has earned 17 caps. He got his first call-up of 2025 in the June international window, coming off a stellar season at PSV. His 12 goals made him the second-highest scorer for the Eredivisie champions.

Before Tillman started to come into his own on the field, he was an even quieter kid. Tillman, the son of a German mother and American father, met USMNT defender Chris Richards when they were teenagers at the FC Bayern Academy.

Richards remembers being unsure of Tillman. He was so reserved, and Richards recalls how hard it was to read him. Tillman was also a couple of years younger and underdeveloped, but he’d soon grow into a “baller.”

“I think from the outside he’s very quiet, but once you get to know him, he’s a teddy bear. It’s been really cool seeing him go from forward to midfield, but he’s fully embraced it,” Richards said. “He understood that if he wants to play at a high level, that’s what he needs to do. He's kind of found his footing.”

Tillman is ready to do whatever he needs to get on the field, and he’s eager to take this opportunity in the Gold Cup to show Pochettino he’s a World Cup-level player.

“My confidence is quite high,” Tillman said. “I got the opportunity today to show myself. In my time here, I didn’t have a lot of starting [opportunities], so today was up to me to show myself again, and I think I did quite well.”

Pochettino said they’ve developed trust with Tillman. Even though he’s quiet, the coaching staff knows he’ll give everything he has to the National Team. With this deeper relationship, Pochettino hopes to unlock more of Tillman because they think so highly of him.

“He’s a very talented player, one of the most talented players we have,” Pochettino said.