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Ricardo Pepi on missing out in 2022, the US striker battle, and his connection with Pulisic, presented by Michelob ULTRA: Men in Blazers 06/06/26
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- [00:00]
Roger Bennett
For nearly two decades, almost as long as Tim Ream has been in the U.S. men's National Team, All State has bat the growth of this game. In every corner of this great footballing nation, from grassroots pitches to the biggest stages, they've been here believing in it, protecting its future. Because supporting soccer, it's not just about match days. And that's why All State offers affordable coverage at personalised rates, so you can spend less time worrying and and more time watching. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. Visit allstate.com or call a local agent today. Allstate. You're in good hands. Potential savings vary subject to terms and availability. Allstate North America Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. It's Rog here to sing my praise for a very special New balance football boot, the 442. It's no nonsense workhorse midfielders and defenders don't ones who do the dirty work but also ping a pass to perfection. It's a classic boot design with modern enhancements with an ultra lightweight sole. Synthetic microfiber material retains a soft premium in hand feel, allowing for the lighter weight, the superior touch on the ball. Get a pair for yourself or the footballer and your family. At NewBalance.com Soccer, we are delighted to bring you the Men in Blazers City Guides presented by Visa. Joyously assembled guide to the best places to eat, drink and explore and watch the beautiful game across the country. It's a guide aimed at helping fans experience the city as a local. It's built by you, our listeners, recommending some of the best small businesses in your communities, like the finest Viet Cajun in Houston. Yes. The best burrito in San Francisco. Yes. Where to save a lemon pepper wet in Atlanta. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. A massive shout out to our sponsor, Visa, who's made this guide possible. Visa gives local business owners the tools and support to be ready for moments exactly like this one. Welcoming you to enjoy the games this summer. Start planning your journey@meninblazers.com CityGuides. You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network Suboptimal Radio. Mauricio Pochettino video.
- [02:15]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. A video of him. Just saying, like, if you're watching this, you know you're, you're picked for the World cup and I want you to respond.
- [02:23]
Roger Bennett
So it just like pops up that you, you're literally in a WhatsApp group. Are you clicking into the members to make sure Christian politics in it?
- [02:34]
Ricardo Pepi
You know, I was just happy to be able to be in that group, to be honest, that was my initial reaction.
- [02:43]
Roger Bennett
My guest today is one of the most tenacious footballers in the American game, a gent who catapulted onto our Radars aged 18, scoring crucial goals that propelled the United states into the 2022 World cup, only to be shockingly denied a place in the promised land of the tournament himself. He persevered, soared again, and on the cusp of his first World Cup, I read my third first Michelob Ultra of the day. To this remarkable man, a human inspiration, it's Mr. Ricardo Pepe.
- [03:15]
Ricardo Pepi
Hello, Raj. How we doing?
- [03:17]
Roger Bennett
I'm more interested in how you're doing. How are you feeling? We are almost there.
- [03:21]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, man, almost there. You know, very excited, of course. You know, very happy. Proud of myself, proud of everyone that's been around me. So, you know, just buzzing, man, to be honest.
- [03:30]
Roger Bennett
All buzzing. And we're just going to be watching you. This series is made possible by our great friends at Michelob Ultra. So let's dive in before we dig into the football. Ricciardo. Christian Pulisic came on this show a couple of days ago, which was a huge mistake for him, but he talked about how you all went to see the movie Obsession last week. I need an honest reaction. How many stars out of five do you give the movie Obsession?
- [03:56]
Ricardo Pepi
Yo. I actually missed out on that movie, to be honest. I had treatment, so some of the guys went and some of the guys had treatment, so I didn't. I didn't really go watch it.
- [04:05]
Roger Bennett
I don't know what would be more painful, treatment or watching Obsession? Are you a horror movie guy in real life, Ricardo?
- [04:11]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, usually I am. Usually I am. I would enjoy myself watching that movie for sure. So I'm gonna. I'm gonna make it out one day.
- [04:18]
Roger Bennett
So we will move on, regrettably, from our movie hour into the football. And I'm speaking to you at a joyous time. Just three weeks ago, the club season wrapped up. You came to international camp. You finished the season as a champion of the Netherlands again with PSV, the league's third highest scorer, including a run of six in your last five matches. Total 16 goals. It's the best scoring season of your career. Can you describe what it's like when you get into the groove, Ricardo? Does it feel like the ball's tiny, the goal's enormous, the goalkeeper's arms are tiny? Tiny, Tiny.
- [04:53]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, man. To be honest, you know, just looking back at the season, great. You know, there's. I think there was a lot of injuries, a lot of Ups and downs, of course. But if I just look at, you know, my stats and, you know, while playing, I think at the end of the season, I was able to get in the group again and, you know, make it a perfect moment coming into the World cup, of course, you know, but, yeah, like I said, it was. It was a difficult one, and I feel like if I were to be able to play more minutes, more games, and it could have been even an even crazier one. So really, you know, not a bad one. Not a bad one.
- [05:25]
Roger Bennett
What does it feel like? 3rd highest goal score? It's pretty bloody good. Does it feel like you're in the zone flow, you just can't miss?
- [05:33]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, it definitely felt like I was, you know, I was playing well. You know, like you said, when everything. When everything's working out, then everything just falls in your feet and, you know, you just have to tap in the ball or you're at the right spot, everything just finds you. So, you know, it felt. It felt very good. To be honest.
- [05:47]
Roger Bennett
It does feel like everything finds you. It's not what's going on in your head. I once asked Harry Kane how he always gets to be in the right place at the right time, make it look as if the ball's coming to him. And he thought for a second, he goes, I don't know. I don't know, really. I don't know how I do that.
- [06:01]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, yeah. It's actually kind of crazy because, you know, it's just about instincts and, you know, snow and where. Where you got to be, where the ball is going to find you. And, you know, to be honest, it's just something you can't really teach.
- [06:11]
Roger Bennett
So you come into international camp on that high, you're ready for your final tune up before the World Cup. First up. Oh, that. Friendly against AFCON winners or AFCON finalists, depending on who you ask. It's Senegal. Ricardo, you're currently in. From the outside, it looks like a QB1 battle for starting striker. There's you, Flo Balogan. That's had you, right? It's finally poised. When did you learn you'll start the Senegal game? What's your mindset? What do you tell yourself in the. In the tunnel before the game?
- [06:40]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, to be honest, we. We found out a couple hours before the game, you know, that morning of the game. So, you know, we didn't. We didn't really know what was going to happen, but I was prepared either way. You know, the coach had told us the night before that, you know, he didn't really know who he was going to start with. But then once I found out, I was already ready. So then I just, you know, I was ready to go. I was ready to go.
- [07:00]
Roger Bennett
Well, how do they tell you that you're starting?
- [07:03]
Ricardo Pepi
We just usually have like a tactical meeting or, you know, he tells us the lineups, he tells us how. How the other team plays, and then he just gives us a lineup right there.
- [07:11]
Roger Bennett
Takes into the process a bit. The game kicks off. How do you go about feeling out the defenders in the opening minutes of a game, working out where you're going to pro. What are you looking for? How do you know when you found it?
- [07:23]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, I think, to be honest, you know, the first couple duels, the first couple of touches matter a lot. You know, you always want to start a game with, you know, having good touches, you know, winning your individual battles. So, you know, just looking back at the game, you know, I remember I won the first two, three duels, and then, you know, just my first three touches were good. So then all of a sudden you're like, okay, I'm feeling good, so let's do it.
- [07:43]
Roger Bennett
So genuinely, it's a feeling about how you. You feel rather than what you see in terms of reading the backline.
- [07:49]
Ricardo Pepi
Exactly, exactly. So it's just about, you know, obviously positioning yourself in the right spot, you know, but the most important thing is for your confidence to be able to. To be at the highest. So then you have to. Have to keep the ball, you know, you have to be able to take those clean first touches and then everything. Everything just flows, man.
- [08:05]
Roger Bennett
So let's talk about everything really flowing. Six minutes in. I don't know how to describe it other than just wizard filth, magic. The opening goal, drifting from the left channel, two defenders are dragged with you. You receive that ball from Anthony Robinson, I think, and somehow the ball suddenly whipped to Christian Pulisic. Ricciardo, you made that look so easy, but I'd love to know what, what did you sense?
- [08:33]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, so, no, you know, when Anthony played that ball, I was obviously ready to. To keep the ball and see what was gonna. What was gonna happen. You know, I knew Christian was on the inside, but I don't. I didn't know if he was gonna make that run. But, you know, as soon as I took my first touch, I saw both defenders coming towards the ball and I saw run. I saw Christian running. So then I just slipped that ball to him.
- [08:52]
Roger Bennett
What? Behind the scenes work goes into it. Then how did you know where and when Christian would Be. Once you had the ball?
- [08:58]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, I think it's just, you know, going out throughout the game, you know, just learning how your teammates move a little bit. But of course, you know, just being in the game and just knowing what's. What's happening and what's going on, I think that's probably the best way to explain it. Like, you know, once I took that touch, I saw that he was going to run, I saw that free space, and, you know, we linked up pretty well.
- [09:18]
Roger Bennett
You're very modest about it. It was like, genuinely. It was like a Vulcan mind meld.
- [09:25]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah.
- [09:26]
Roger Bennett
How does that feel when you do it, by the way? In the moment. You're laughing at it now, when you did. When you met we. Do you feel electric in that moment?
- [09:33]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, of course. You know, like I said, it makes you feel good, man. It makes you feel good because then, you know, out of this play, we. We eventually got a goal, so then that's. Obviously, that was an important play. But, you know, just being in the game and just being able to pull out things like this, you know, like pull these things off, and it just makes you feel good, and then it. It just helps you for the rest of the game.
- [09:53]
Roger Bennett
How many times did you watch that pass after the game?
- [09:55]
Ricardo Pepi
Honestly, to be honest, I watched like once or twice. You know, then. Then I just went on to my assist, and then, you know, I didn't really look back, and I'm just focused on the next game. Just focus on the next game.
- [10:05]
Roger Bennett
I've watched it. I probably watched it, I would guess about 120 times. It is an electric. It's an electric moment. It's what, you know, it's genuinely the fans have been aching for, you know, that kind of a moment. That kind of a moment of essentially street ball. But just under 15 minutes later, you went again. Second goal. Alex Freeman gave you the ball to chase in four touches, you, and Christian just tore apart the Senegalese backline. Christian told us it was pure instinct on his part, but from your perspective, you know, the assister, you get the ball. Tell me what you're thinking or trying to process as you make your decision whether to run in yourself or to make magic happen.
- [10:44]
Ricardo Pepi
No. So, first of all, you know, just looking at the defender, kind of take that step, you know, because I thought, you know, he thought Alex was going to play me to feet. But then eventually I just made the run in behind and, you know, I was by myself on the wing. And then I see. I look up and I see Christian running across the Box. And I'm like, you know, I'm just going to play it. He's in a better position, obviously, and, you know, had to be a good pass and I felt like it was a good pass and he, he had a good, he had a good finish.
- [11:09]
Roger Bennett
Be honest, you like playmaking as much as scoring, recording.
- [11:13]
Ricardo Pepi
It's a tough one. It's a tough one. You know, anything to help the team at the end of the day, but I don't think there's any better, better feeling than scoring goals for sure. But, you know, if I can help out the team, you know, if I can, you know, create assists or create goals, and I'm happy as well.
- [11:27]
Roger Bennett
That was the most diplomatic. No, I much prefer goals I've ever.
- [11:32]
Ricardo Pepi
For the team. As. For the team.
- [11:33]
Roger Bennett
Yeah, for the team, man. I mean, we do judge strikers on goals. Recording. Is that fair?
- [11:39]
Ricardo Pepi
I feel like that's fair. I feel like that's fair, you know, but at the end of the day, you know, being a striker is not only about the goals. You know, you also want to be able to be involved in the game. You also want to be able to help the team with whatever it needs. So, you know, I would say I was pretty satisfied after that game, but then, you know, you always have that, that little feeling of like, ah, I wanted to go as well.
- [11:58]
Roger Bennett
I don't know if you're a data driven guy. Is it. Are there any metrics or data points you do look at post game to judge if you've had a good game or a great one?
- [12:08]
Ricardo Pepi
No, to be honest, I'm not really into those type of things. You know, I just go based on how, how I felt, you know, kind of just like, was I able to contribute to the team or was I able to keep the ball or was I able to score? Just things like that. Just based on how I felt during the game.
- [12:23]
Roger Bennett
I mean, it must have felt amazing. I will say, watching you and Christian combining in this game. I don't like to be hyperbolic. It was like watching Jalen Brunson and Carl Anthony Towns. Every attacking player develops a different understanding of every other attacking teammate. What they want, where they want the ball, what they like. Can you put into words what your understanding is of what kind of ball, what kind of support Christian Pulisic needs from you? Because you really did get the best
- [12:49]
Ricardo Pepi
out of it playing with Christian for a couple years now, you know, you know, he's the type of player who's going to make a couple runs and behind, you know, he's all he sometimes also wants the ball to his feet. And, you know, we know how dangerous he is whenever he has the ball. So, you know, anytime that he has a ball, it's either, you know, something. Something's going to happen. Either he's going to score or, you know, we're going to. We're going to create a dangerous place. So, you know, just knowing him and the abilities that he has, if he has a ball, then I'm always looking to see if I can find the space in the box or, you know, if I have the ball, I know that he's giving him the ball. He's going to create something. So, you know, he's just that type of player who has so many weapons.
- [13:24]
Roger Bennett
When we talk about so many weapons. The big difference in this game was watching Anthony Robinson and a teammate of yours at the club level, Serginio Destiny, play together on the flanks for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino, which is hard to believe, but it is true. They added such a different dimension. You know, Sergiciano Dest really, really, really well. What's he like from the inside and what does he do in terms of the added dimension he adds for. For every team that you're on?
- [13:55]
Ricardo Pepi
Serge is funny. Serge is a funny guy. Just because he's so random. He's a funny guy. He's so random. Some of the things he says sometimes are just like, out of nowhere.
- [14:04]
Roger Bennett
So I'm like, okay, he's a meme in human form.
- [14:07]
Ricardo Pepi
He's a great guy, man. To be honest, he's one of the guys that I hang out with the most. You know, I talk to him quite a lot, you know, here at camp and back at national, back at club. Sorry, I don't really need to tell you guys what he does on the pitch. I feel. I feel like he's that type of guy who. He likes to take on defenders. You know, he likes to make them fall under, fall on their butts. You know, it's just things like that that he does. He's a man of the people for sure. You know, a lot of people, whenever they're watching him, you know, people are. People know that something's gonna happen. So, you know, he's a. He's a great player, man, and I feel like he brings a lot to the team as well.
- [14:37]
Roger Bennett
Seginio Dest is a man of the people, and he gives the people what they want, which is Seginio Dest mixtape
- [14:43]
Ricardo Pepi
highlight reels, you know, you know, he's gonna put on A show, you know, he's gonna put on a show. So. Yeah, man, great player. Great player.
- [14:51]
Roger Bennett
Why just beat someone when you can nutmeg and truly steal their soul?
- [14:54]
Ricardo Pepi
He's just that type of player who's gonna look for stepovers and he's gonna look to, you know, cut it back. But, you know, at the end of the day, he's also a very important player for us. You know, he can create a lot of problems. He can create a lot of, you know, a lot of problems for the. For the opposing team. So, you know, he's. He's fantastic, man.
- [15:11]
Roger Bennett
You ever been nutmegged by soginho in training? Have I?
- [15:15]
Ricardo Pepi
Let me think about this one. I'm not sure. I'm not sure he's gotten me yet. I'm not sure he's gotten me it. I don't think I'd like to be there either.
- [15:23]
Roger Bennett
There's another player on the team. We talked about him earlier. Flo Balogun came on second half. Honestly, it was like watching Hulk smash form. Just swung his foot at everything that moved. He got his goal and I know it feels good for the team, but the two of you in Hachi, right, you're in the dance off essentially for playing time. It's like watching Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in Zoolander. I always wonder what a striker battle feels like. You're watching from the bench when your teammate, but also your competitor scores a goal. How do you guys all experience each other in this moment?
- [15:55]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, I mean, I think, to be honest, we're all here for the same reason. And, you know, that's for the team, of course, but, you know, obviously we. We are all strikers and we all want to play as much as possible, but, you know, at the end of the day, we have this beautiful opportunity to play for our country. And, you know, we're all here for the team. So at the end of the day, we're just trying to support each other. We're just trying to make each other better. And I feel like that's the best way, just proving ourselves, you know, he proves himself, I prove myself. How do you prove himself? So it's just the best thing for. For the team.
- [16:24]
Roger Bennett
In your own words, how do you describe what you bring that's unique, your strengths to this team? What do you offer that no other American striker can record it?
- [16:34]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, you know, obviously, as a player, I feel like, you know, I can play in between lines a little bit. Of course, you know, I feel like my finishing is very efficient. You know, I'M a very efficient player overall. So, you know, just any time that, that I'm in and around the box and, you know, I can, that's just where my qualities show up.
- [16:51]
Roger Bennett
Do you think about the starting spot? Is it a goal? Is it something that drives you?
- [16:55]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, you know, of course it's always, it's always a goal. I feel like for every player on the squad, you know, everyone wants to play as much as possible. Everyone wants to, wants to start. So, you know, it's obviously something that, that's within, you know, some competitiveness. Of course I always think about the starting pot, but at the end of the day, you know, it's about I'm here to help the team with whatever I can and, you know, just do my best for the team for whenever I'm on the pitch.
- [17:20]
Roger Bennett
A word from our friends at 1440 the 2022 World cup final drew 1.5 billion viewers. It's 11 times this year's Super Bowl. To understand how football became the world's game and what drove it, listen to 1440 explores with financial Times journalist Simon Kuiper, who will give you the inside scoop into the depths of the tournament. Listen to 1440 explores wherever you get your podcasts and as the world arrives in the United States for the biggest spectacle in sports, we're going coast to coast, host city to host city to meet the world with the men in Blazers Matchday Live Tour. These are free college game day style live events taking place just before kickoff at some of the biggest games of the summer where we'll be taking the stage with celebrity guests in front of thousands of fans. It's going to be amazing. Come and be with us in person or From Afar on YouTube. Let's celebrate this some other way. It's meant to be celebrated. Head to the events tab on meninblazers.com for all the details. To the football to more together. Courage.
- [18:27]
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- [18:56]
Roger Bennett
As I said in the introduction, I do admire you so much. You came in so young, you soared so quickly, you know, and then you met your challenge and have overcome it by just going again back to back Dutch titles as we speak. But I do want to flashback to the lead up to the 2022 World Cup. You'd put Yourself on the national radar, the coaches radar. You're a lanky 18 year old putting in just superb performances in your first two senior starts for the US team against Honduras and Jamaica. But then the 2022 roster was announced you would buy then 19 struggling in a relegation battle at Augsburg. And shockingly, I think for everybody, we're left off the final 2022 roster. You know, we've talked about it before, but also there's a human truth that we forget that football is a human. When you got that news, and I don't know how it's done, that you're not going to the World cup, whether it's by phone or in person or by email, how does it go down? And can you just describe how devastating it is?
- [20:02]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, obviously it was, I'd say, one of the hardest moments as a footballer, of course, and just as a human being, because, you know, it's obviously that something that you, you dream of, you know, as a kid or, you know, as soon as you know what you want to do with football, you start dreaming of a Champions League final or playing in the Champions League or going to a World Cup. So it was obviously devastating. You know, it's one of those things that kind of makes you question yourself a little bit. But then at the end of the day, it was just, you know, I was. I just put in my head that I'm gonna use this as. As fuel, you know, as fuel, and I'm gonna continue to work and continue to become a better player and eventually, you know, four years later, I'm here, so something you have to use, man.
- [20:46]
Roger Bennett
How long did the devastation last, Ricardo? Were you able to watch those US Games at last World cup as, as a fan, or was it just too painful?
- [20:54]
Ricardo Pepi
No, you know, I was able to watch because, you know, I have a very good relationship with some of the guys here, so, you know, I was just wishing them the best from. From afar, of course.
- [21:02]
Roger Bennett
What was that like, Ricardo, to watch and not be part of them?
- [21:05]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, it was painful. It was painful. I would say it was painful for sure. You know, watching some of the boys compete, you know, just watching their smile on their faces, you know, playing at their best. It was just. Obviously I was part of the group at some point, but then I got dropped out for the World cup, so it was, it was painful to watch for sure.
- [21:21]
Roger Bennett
Were you in Texas with your family?
- [21:23]
Ricardo Pepi
I was, I was.
- [21:24]
Roger Bennett
A lot of footballers could not bear to watch. Tyler Adams talks about how painful he finds it when he's not able to play Was there any advice that you received in the aftermath that helped you rebuild to get ready for all the work to come? Who gave it to you? What was it?
- [21:39]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, you know, kind of just talking to, you know, my parents, of course, and you know, my agent a little bit. They were just telling me that, you know, everything happens for a reason and that, you know, everything's going to be fine. We just got to work harder, we just got to put our foot on the, on the pedal and, you know, keep going forward.
- [21:55]
Roger Bennett
We talked about deciding to knuckle down fuel using these things as motivation. But you also did analyze your game, right? You decided you were going to work harder at your touch and tight spaces and the mental side of your game. Can you talk about what insight and what mental practice that you've developed, how you approach the process of self improvement that brought us to the here and now?
- [22:18]
Ricardo Pepi
Just going through these obstacles in life, I think it just makes you, you know, it makes you, obviously it makes you grow as a person, you know, it makes you become a stronger person. So I feel like that mentality aspect of building was fantastic, man. I feel like it made me a stronger person and made me a little bit more mature and, you know, it kind of just gave me a clear idea of, you know, what, what I want to do next and, you know, where I want to go. And eventually, you know, I made my move to PSV and then, you know, from there I grew a lot as a player and, you know, just working in those type places. You know, we play a lot of football there. You know, we don't like to kick the ball long. So then it's just, it just improves your game a lot.
- [22:57]
Roger Bennett
What period of your career do you feel like you've developed the most, what has been the most contributing to the Ricardo Pepe of today moments?
- [23:05]
Ricardo Pepi
Whenever I moved to psv, I think that was a very important step for me. You know, just playing at a, in a good club in the Netherlands and you know, playing high level, playing Champions League and stuff like that. Then obviously training day in, day out with good players, you know, technically good players, it just makes you a better player.
- [23:23]
Roger Bennett
Take us into the experience then of getting the official call up from Mauricio Pochettino. How does it happen?
- [23:29]
Ricardo Pepi
Where were you the way it happened this time? We just got kind of put in like a, kind of like a group chat. Obviously it's nerve wracking, you know, leading up to the point where you don't really know if you're going or not. But eventually I Was just in the car running some. With some errands with my father, and then just got a group chat and got a video from. From the. From the trainer. And it was just a video saying that, yeah, if you're watching this. If you're watching this video, you've been selected to the World Cup. And I didn't really know how to react at first. And then I just.
- [23:59]
Roger Bennett
Mauricio Pochettino video.
- [24:01]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a video of him just saying, like, if you're watching this, you know, you're. You're picked for the World cup. And I want you to respond, yeah,
- [24:10]
Roger Bennett
yeah, you're in the car with your dad.
- [24:12]
Ricardo Pepi
I'm in the car with my father, just running some errands. And then, you know, like I said, we're going home. Just got the message.
- [24:19]
Roger Bennett
So it just like, pops up. You're literally in a WhatsApp group. Are you clicking into the members to make sure Christian politics in it?
- [24:30]
Ricardo Pepi
You know, I was just happy to be able to be in that group, man. To be honest, that was my initial reaction.
- [24:35]
Roger Bennett
How did it feel?
- [24:36]
Ricardo Pepi
I felt great. Felt great. Honestly, it's something that I can't really explain. I can't really tell you how it feels. You know, there were so many emotions going through my body.
- [24:45]
Roger Bennett
Relief.
- [24:46]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah. Big, big relief for sure.
- [24:48]
Roger Bennett
Did you doubt this time, Ricard? Did you have any doubt?
- [24:51]
Ricardo Pepi
I didn't really have any doubt in myself, but, you know, just going through what I've already been through, you know, I know that anything's possible because, you know, last World Cup, I thought that I also had good opportunities and good chances to be able to make it to the roster. But, you know, you just never know. Of course, you just never know you
- [25:07]
Roger Bennett
were with your father. I mean, I would have just started sobbing. Ricardo.
- [25:11]
Ricardo Pepi
I hadn't really opened the message from. From Poch yet. And then I just showed my dad my phone. And then all of a sudden, he starts having his emotions. And then. Then we just get so happy, man. I remember we had a dinner that night with the family, and no one really wanted to eat. You know, we had a dinner plan because it was my mom's birthday. And we get our food and we're like, oh, no one's hungry. No one's hungry. So then we just take all the food to go and just eat it at home.
- [25:42]
Roger Bennett
What did you. I mean, I'm trying to think as a parent, what that must feel like to have had a kid achieve so much, get burned in such a dramatic way. Rebuild, go again and have this moment. What did he, your dad, say to you in that moment?
- [25:56]
Ricardo Pepi
Didn't really have any words to say to me in that moment. He just started, you know, I felt like he started crying a little bit, and then, you know, he just kept congratulating me, kept hugging me. And so, you know, he couldn't really express his feelings at that moment either.
- [26:09]
Roger Bennett
Happiest birthday to you, man.
- [26:11]
Ricardo Pepi
Appreciate that.
- [26:13]
Roger Bennett
I'd love to hear from you about Mauricio Pochettino. He's a coach who molded one of your striking role models. Harry Kay, what's your experience? Been working with Potch. How would you describe the way he approaches coaching you as an individual? Aside from the team and the systems, what have you learned most from him?
- [26:32]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, man, I feel like, you know, he's kind of given us that belief that we can compete versus any team in the world. You know, he's kind of. Whenever we talk about, you know, just playing the best teams in the world, the first thing he talks about is intensity and just, you know, going to have fun. And, you know, as a player, that's kind of something that you want to hear. Like, he always tells us, I'm not going to tell you how to. How to play in the final third. You know, that's where your creativity shows. But then he just gives us that belief of, like, you know, with intensity, we can be anyone. So, you know, he's a fantastic guy, man. Great coach. To be honest.
- [27:02]
Roger Bennett
You're about to become Ricardo Pepe, a World cup footballer. How does that feel when I say that?
- [27:11]
Ricardo Pepi
You know, I haven't really sat down and thought about it myself, but then now that you say it's, yeah, incredible, man, incredible. Like I said, dream come true. So I'm just very excited, very happy to be here, and I'm ready to get to work.
- [27:22]
Roger Bennett
What was the first World cup you watched?
- [27:25]
Ricardo Pepi
I'd have to say first cup that I watched, that I remember of probably the Brazil one.
- [27:31]
Roger Bennett
2014.
- [27:32]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah.
- [27:33]
Roger Bennett
Which memory do you remember? Like, which footballing memory from that do you remember?
- [27:38]
Ricardo Pepi
First memory, watching the United States? I remember, you know, actually saw it a couple days ago on Instagram. That goal that Clint Dempsey scored 30 seconds into the match. That's fantastic, man. I remember watching that one.
- [27:51]
Roger Bennett
What would that be like, man, for you?
- [27:53]
Ricardo Pepi
That would be fantastic. That would be fantastic. You know, he's a great guy, obviously, a great striker that, you know, I look up to. So it's my guy.
- [28:00]
Roger Bennett
Texas forever.
- [28:02]
Ricardo Pepi
Yes, sir. Obviously remember watching. That was it. That was The World cup, but it was Brazil and Germany, right?
- [28:09]
Roger Bennett
7:1.
- [28:09]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, the 7:1. Remember that? Obviously, the song. The song for the World cup was a big thing. So, yeah, that was. That was the first one that I remember, to be honest.
- [28:18]
Roger Bennett
James Rodriguez go as well as well.
- [28:21]
Ricardo Pepi
Crazy goal. Crazy.
- [28:22]
Roger Bennett
I mean, this is what you can now do. That moment we interviewed James, he talks about how his life is like, there's a before that goal and then after that goal. That's what the World cup can do. It's just like in a transcendent moment. Right. Does it feel like your identity's changed your sense of self now that you are Ricardo Pepe, World cup footballer?
- [28:43]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, to be honest, you know, it's. It's a little bit early to be able to identify that a little bit, because the World cup hasn't really started yet. But, you know, I feel like obviously all the work that I put in, you know, all the hours that I put in the lab, it's just. It just feels great. Feels great to be able to, like, actually cherish them right now. But, you know, I'm sure it's going to be a great time. It's going to be a great tournament for us. We're super excited. I'm super excited. And so we're just ready to go.
- [29:09]
Roger Bennett
What's your biggest fear recording?
- [29:12]
Ricardo Pepi
Biggest fear just playing football is obviously injuries, man. You know, those are. Those are obviously one of those things that you wouldn't want to wish upon anyone, but I also know that they're part of the game. So it's a difficult, difficult topic to talk about.
- [29:25]
Roger Bennett
Your biggest fear when you face this World cup as a US player on home turf?
- [29:29]
Ricardo Pepi
Not really much fear, man. To be honest, I'm just excited for the opportunity, you know, like I said, I'm excited to be here, you know, play one of the biggest. The biggest tournament in the world of sports. So I'm just super happy and excited.
- [29:42]
Roger Bennett
You're about to play Germany. The US men have struggled against European opponents internationally. You eight straight games without a win against European teams. You're in the squad for a couple of them. 52 loss against Belgium in March, 31 reverse against Germany in. In 2023. How do you understand it? Is it. Is it a mental hump when we face these teams?
- [30:04]
Ricardo Pepi
No, to be honest, I feel like it's. You have to see it as a great opportunity. You know, it's a great opportunity for us to prepare for the World Cup. You know, we know that they have good quality players. We also have some Quality. We have quality players as well. So then, you know, it's just looking at it as an opportunity more than anything else. You know, it's a. It's a great opportunity to be able to face one of the best teams in the world. And, you know, we're ready for the
- [30:26]
Roger Bennett
challenge, Particularly, we can be anybody. But European teams, we struggle with. Is it just coincidence?
- [30:32]
Ricardo Pepi
Oh, I don't really know what it is, to be honest, man. You know, it's one of those things that they obviously have a lot of individual quality. And, you know, like I said, now I feel like we really have a good opportunity to be able to compete. You know, we want to go and win that game, so we're ready for the challenge.
- [30:48]
Roger Bennett
I mean, I'm fascinated talking to you. You have achieved so much in this club season. It was almost watching you. It felt that you contributed every time you took the field. When you pull a US Jersey on you, certainly, I mean, it looks so potent, but somehow you still feel, to me, underrated. I don't know if you feel that, but in this World cup, it is about delivering messages to the world. What do you feel you're ready to say, Ricardic?
- [31:16]
Ricardo Pepi
Well, I'm ready to say that, you know, I'm 100% committed to this team. Of course, you know, anytime on the pitch, you know, I'm a very efficient player, you know, and so I'm going to give my best to this country and for the team.
- [31:28]
Roger Bennett
Amen. Is there a moment or memory from the early days back in El Paso or Dallas that you're carrying with you into this World cup that you'll think about when you. You're about to take the field?
- [31:40]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, I think, you know, just looking back, obviously, as a kid, and, you know, looking back at some of the pictures that my mother sends me, you know, I just remember, you know, playing as a little boy and then my. My dad on the sidelines, you know, just coaching me. And, you know, like I said, he was. He's been my coach or he was my coach from when I was 4 to when I was 10. So then just looking back at that moment, you know, I wouldn't change anything about it, man. I feel like that's one of the biggest joys that we have as a family, to be able to enjoy that.
- [32:10]
Roger Bennett
What was your dad's greatest lesson as a coach that he really drilled into?
- [32:15]
Ricardo Pepi
Well, the most important thing that he always told me is that not to waste my time. He was like, if you're not. If you're not ready to give your 100%. No matter how bad or good things are going, he's like, there's always got to be effort. So he was like, if there's no effort, then you can't waste your time on the pitch.
- [32:33]
Roger Bennett
Amen. Listen to the Pepe father and great things will ensue. Listeners. Ricardo. Just one week from today, you, Ricardo Daniel Pepe, you'll stand on the grass at Sofi Stadium in Los angeles. There'll be 70,000 fans in the stands, many of them there to cheer for the United States. It's the first World cup game of your, of your career. For all the hurt that came and not making the squad to make that debut in front of friends and family in your own country, when you think about taking the field, what do you expect to feel? Emotionally?
- [33:06]
Ricardo Pepi
I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of chills, for sure. You know, just looking around me, you know, being in a World cup game in front of my family, enjoying with all, with our fans, you know, with our team, I feel like it's going to be a fantastic feeling and I'm just ready to see how. What it feels like.
- [33:21]
Roger Bennett
Is there a moment you're most excited for that you're dreaming about when you, when you put your head on your pillow at night?
- [33:27]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah. To be honest, I'm ready for this to start. You know, I'm ready to this. For this to start. You know, as a, as a team, we have a great opportunity to do it here in home soil and, and, you know, we're ready. We're ready.
- [33:37]
Roger Bennett
Who are you closest with on the team?
- [33:40]
Ricardo Pepi
I'm close to a lot of guys, actually. Like I said, Malik, you know, obviously playing with him at psv. Serginho, Tyler, I talk to a lot. Chris Richards, Like, I have a good relationship with everyone, to be honest.
- [33:52]
Roger Bennett
Which players help you most with your game at the international level?
- [33:55]
Ricardo Pepi
If I need to talk something specifically, like when it comes to positioning or something like that, then, you know, obviously if Balo has a question or I have a question for him, then we just ask each other.
- [34:04]
Roger Bennett
If you had one message for the American public, People are about to cheer you on in the stands and in the streets of this nation this summer. What would you tell them? That this team is going to try and bring this next month.
- [34:17]
Ricardo Pepi
So I would tell them that, you know, we're 100% committed to our country. Of course we're going to bring our best from, from our team and we're super excited and we want to thank everyone for the support.
- [34:30]
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- [35:31]
Roger Bennett
Las World cup, you are not yet of legal drinking age, which is so wild to me as we sit here today. You are now an established European striker, a winner. 4 double digit goal seasons in Europe, which is amazing. And you poised to play a central role in the attack for your nation at a World Cup. So much anticipation on this moment. How do you feel different to the Ricardo Pepe of four years again? And what would you say to him if you were able to go back in time?
- [36:02]
Ricardo Pepi
I'm just telling him, you know, continue to work harder, you know, you're doing great, your opportunity is going to come. And if I just look back at myself now, you know, looking back, obviously as a player, I'm a much more complete player, you know, playing in tight spaces. Like I've said, finish. He's always been one of my strengths and I feel like I'm just more mature and more. More complete player for sure.
- [36:25]
Roger Bennett
And how do you hope to be different in four weeks time?
- [36:29]
Ricardo Pepi
Yeah, you know, I'm hoping to be able to make a difference, help the team and, you know, hopefully score some goals in the World Cup.
- [36:34]
Roger Bennett
I hope you were going to say a World cup winner. Ricardo Pepe.
- [36:38]
Ricardo Pepi
That's also part of the plan. That's also part of the plan.
- [36:43]
Roger Bennett
Ricardo, to you, to your family, to your mum for giving up a birthday, to your dad for those early coaching years, to your team and to all that is to come. I toast you, man.
- [36:55]
Ricardo Pepi
Cheers, mate.
- [36:56]
Roger Bennett
Big, big love, courage.
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