USMNT players not distracted by Pochettino links to Man United - Antonee Robinson

Fulham defender Antonee Robinson said the United States men's national team players are not distracted by news linking U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino to job with Manchester United ahead of this month's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series vs. Haiti.

"As a soccer player, we're pretty used to sort of fast training environments and games...so we're all very good at just focusing on the next task and about the next session or the next game coming up," Robinson said on Tuesday. "For me personally, I don't really look at it."

Sources said on Tuesday that despite only recently signing a new long-term contract with U.S. Soccer, Pochettino would be open to the prospect of returning to the Premier League with Manchester United, whose executive will soon meet to discuss the future of current manager Michael Carrick.

The sources said that an escape clause in the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager's new deal enables him to speak to a major European club if they are prepared to trigger the 54-year-old's $10 million release fee.

"It's just focusing on we've got a game at the weekend and I'm going to do everything I can to be ready to play for him, and how he wants us to play," Robinson said.

Following a perfect start to the new World Cup cycle with four consecutive wins, the U.S. will face Haiti on Nov. 14 and Nov. 17 in the quarterfinal stage of the Nations League.

Looking ahead to those matches, up-and-coming American star Cavan Sullivan noted the impact that Pochettino has already made on his career.

"He's taken me under his wing in the most tremendous way possible. I was obviously a young guy coming in, and he told me to just play free and be myself, and have confidence in my ability," the 17-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder said. 

"That didn't mean I was off the hook or the standard was lower for me. That standard remained the same for everybody in the camp and every training and every game."

Sullivan is one of 13 players who debuted for Pochettino and the USMNT in the previous international window.

In November's camp, high-profile names such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun returned to the fold.

Sullivan said he is excited to play alongside Pulisic, and said that he looks up to the AC Milan attacker.

"He's a guy that every kid in the country looks up to, so it's full circle for me," Sullivan said.

Following November, the U.S. will then take part in a friendly against Jamaica on Dec. 13.