Brenden Aaronson on USMNT expectations and earning back the trust of Leeds fans: American Dreams presented by Michelob Ultra 05/30/26

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2:01Start planning your journey at meninblazers.com backslash cityguides. You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network, suboptimal radio. What's Mauricio Pochettino's initial message to the players? No regrets was the first thing he said. no regrets. This is the tournament where we're going to walk in and I want you guys to feel like you went to the World Cup and you gave it your all. And to hear him say something like that, it means something. We all just have to play with no fear.

2:32My guest today is a man with the curls of Chalamet and the mental tenacity of Walton Goggins. Watching him soar with Leeds this season has been one of so many American Premier League fans' joys of the entire campaign. It's magical to welcome back. Ellen Rhodes' American boy met for Messi and raised a third first Michelob Ultra of the day to that double A battery in human form. It's Mr. Brendan Aronson. Hey, thanks for having me. I'm really excited to be on the show, man. Oh, Brendan, it's a joy to be back. Premier League's coming to a close. Leeds have stayed up. Mauricio Pochettino announces roster for the US men's national team.

3:08Where were you when you found out and how does that all go down? I found out a couple of days before when we played West Ham. For me, finding that moment was the best moment of my life. I've never been so nervous in my life before, to be honest with you. There's never been a point where my heart was, I mean, it was pounding out of my chest. I had Malina on FaceTime with me because she was home, which is my fiance. You know, getting that text message, getting that video, it was unbelievable. And it's something that, that moment I'll never forget. This series is made possible by our great friends at Michelob Ultra.

3:35You have accomplished so much. You're the only US attacking player currently in the Premier League. Were you nervous? Was there a fear? Was there a doubt for you? or was it just joy, validation, relief? There was a fear because I think as a human being, it's just, it's normal, you know what I mean? I think as a person like I am, I feel like I'm a pretty humble guy, you know, I don't hold myself to this crazy, crazy standard and think above everybody else. So I'm kind of just like that humble guy that, you know, I go out there and do my thing. And for me, of course, you have to have self-belief in the game that you play.

4:02It's football, you know, but for me to find out, like I did, like, of course, like I thought I had a really good chance, but you always, that little doubt, you know what I mean? Always creeps in. But yeah, like I said, I think, you know, That's the most nervous I've ever been for a text message. Like I didn't know what it was going to be, but that was the craziest moment of my career so far and the best moment too. I just got the email saying that I wasn't going to make the team. It was shattering, but I'm happy for you, Brendan. I'm happy for you. You were on stage in New York City. Well, good, I performed.

4:31That was quite a production. What was the funniest story that we didn't see behind the scenes of that whole experience? The funniest story behind it? Oh, man. It was like, listen, like I said, you know, we flew in. I played on Sunday and then I took a flight right to JFK and then I got there and then I got there pretty late, probably like 630. Got to the hotel, you know, when you're exhausted, I feel like you go to bed. And then the next day it was, you know, we were right into the game mode of you have to put the tux on, get ready to go for this, you know, this unveiling. And behind the scenes, I mean, I think just watching the video back, of course, one of my good friends is Joe Scali on this team.

5:08and just seeing him in the front row, just like kind of not really knowing what to do was probably, that's a top moment. I have the video saved on my phone too. So he didn't know if he should dance. He didn't really know what he should do because some guys were dancing and he was just like standing there. So it was just pretty awkward, but it was pretty funny. Oh, God bless Joe Scully. Big, big Gunner fan. You're in camp. How would you describe the mood second time around? To think that this is my second World Cup is unbelievable. You know, it feels like it's kind of flown by since the last one because you know as soon as that world cup ends you're just thinking about how can i get to the next one because it was like you get a taste of how amazing that feeling is when you're playing for the national team and you're playing at the highest stage so it was like you get that taste and you're like all right i gotta get to the next one and then during that time period when it goes by it's like you know it just kind of flies because you're enjoying your football you're trying to do the best you can and yeah i think the mood in the camp is great i think it's a great mixture of guys like that were at the last national team where guys have this experience now We have a young group.

6:06I mean, thinking about the last World Cup, I mean, we were very young. Like, I think we were probably one of the youngest ones there. So now looking back at, you know, we're a couple years older now. We have way more experience under our shoes, under our boots. And I think for me, it's just, I really like this group a lot. I think it's a team that's been together for a long time too. The togetherness is very high. And I think we just need to, you know, these two games against Senegal and Germany are huge for us. I think it's a really big show for us to go out there and, you know, connect on the pitch and show this togetherness.

6:33What's the most significant way it feels different to 2022? I would say for myself, and I'm sure this goes to everybody else, is like you kind of really don't know what to expect when it comes to the World Cup, you know what I mean? Of course, you played international football. I played a ton of games in international football before I went ahead and went to that World Cup. But it's just a different feeling, you know, the pressure is so much higher. The, you know, especially now we're playing in the US, the World Cup. So like when you're in Qatar, it's not at home. And now you have the home country.

6:57And I mean, it's even that much more special, but there's also that much more pressure. And I think that the thing that has also made this group so much better is now we've been through a World Cup. We know the pressures. And of course, the pressure is higher. But I think everybody's grown and is used to it at their clubs and where they play and then playing these national team games. I think now it's just, you know, we go out there and we play and we're not really focused on the outside things. I'm going to ask a stupid question. How do you feel that pressure when you talk about the pressure being higher, the home turf?

7:22How does that manifest itself? How do you feel that added pressure? For myself, you know, I'm someone that I want to see the game keep growing in America. And I think the best way to keep it growing is for us to do well in the World Cup. You know what I mean? So I think that's pressure as it is because you want to see the game keep growing. I mean, listen, it's taken so many leaps. And from, I mean, when the MLS first started to now where it is now, I think it's done an amazing job and it's a high-level league, you know. So it's great to see, but you also want to keep it growing even more in order because there's some places in America where you'll see where they don't really know much about soccer.

7:54And you want it to be like people on the tip of their tongue. So for me, it's just, you know, we have to go out there with the show we're about. and I think we have the level. We have so many guys that are playing at such a high level right now and now it's just about coming together and just playing as a team and doing whatever we can no matter what's called upon us. I want to get back to the US in one moment but I have to acknowledge, man, what a season you've had, Brendan Aronson. Full of really beautiful moments on both a human and a footballing level. First of all, Leeds struggling for the first half of the season, looking honestly like relegation fodder.

8:27Into December, it's a wealth story now, Now, massive change occurred famously at halftime in the game against Manchester City. November, Leeds 2-0 down and your manager, Daniel Farker, went to three at the back. And you were a substitute. But Leeds went on to pull two girls back before City got the winner in extra time. Let's ignore that one for a moment. But the season was changed. Take us into the locker room at halftime when Daniel Farker changed everything. It was a crazy season. So many ups, so many downs, of course. And I think that's just the Premier League season, especially for a team that's coming up from, you know, know the championship where we had 100 points we had a fantastic season but we knew coming to the primary league it's going to be a big step you know what i mean looking back at that game against man city i think you know we came in at halftime we knew that we were kind of i mean listen it's man city going to etihad it's not an easy thing to do and especially because they have the ball the whole time you're running but then yeah i think coach danifari is just a guy that he also has played four two three one you know how coaches can be you know they can be very like they don't want to change from what they want to do and that's all i've known you know i mean playing in that 4-2-3-1.

9:27So for me, it was like, you know, was he going to do something like this? And he did, you know, credit to him. He made the change. And I mean, listen, you can see from that point on, we went, I think I saw something the other day was like, discounting this last game. I think we were like top eight in the league in the Premier League from December on or something like this. So seven game unbeaten run. And it certainly looked like that whole formation got the best out of you as a team and you as a player. It was a total vibe change. Listen, when you come to the Premier League and you're playing four at the back.

9:56Sometimes it can be tough, you know what I mean? But then changing to that five, you get one extra defender and it just, you know, it makes you just more solid defensively. And I think in the Premier League, when you come up, I think that's what, like look at Sunderland. Sunderland defended so well this season and look where they finished, you know what I mean? So I think for teams coming up, I think the solidity in the back is one of the biggest things. And of course you have to score goals, but I mean, for the guys that we had this year, Dominic Calvary and Noah Okafor had a big year, Lucas Demetri off the bench.

10:22I mean, we, we scored a lot of goals, and Anton Stock, of course. We've scored a lot of goals, which was a big thing. And then we became really solid at the back. So things just started to click. Yeah, humanly, DCL was my player of the season. Watching him, so again, feeling loved and loving. I mean, it was humanly really just so unbelievably joyful. But I was happy to watch the Leeds story play out. I adore Leeds, the city and the club. And when we last spoke, you shared with real honesty. You talked about how you're a sensitive human being. You used the phrase, I'm a people pleaser. And I thought about you ever since you left the club in the last relegation.

10:59You elected to go back to do the hard thing. We both know Leeds people, Yorkshire people are slow to forgive and forget you have to earn it. And in that seven game unbeaten run, you were ferocious. Three goals, two assists, run a form that defined the rest of your season. Can you talk about what that felt for you on the inside? I don't look at social media. I don't look at any of that stuff. I don't try to like involve myself in it, but I'm not scared of it at the end of the day. You know what I mean? Like he can't be scared of things. And that's the thing that I also learned throughout my time.

11:29Of course, I knew things were going on behind my back. I knew things were, I was getting, you know, a lot of negative talk around me and stuff like that. I had known it. But during that period, I think, you know, the team and everybody, the coaches, they kept believing in me. I mean, especially the coach, you know, I think even during that time period, it might have, I just wasn't getting goals and assists. But I felt like the level that I was playing at was very high. I was creating a lot of chances for the team. And that's what you have to do as a footballer. You have to look at the, you know, the positives and you have to take the positives from those games.

11:56I mean, my chances creation was like very, very high in the league. Like I was creating three to four chances a game. So it was just like it just I wasn't getting that final pass or that final shot off. But they would come and I knew that. So, you know, just that belief in myself and the surrounding people around me, you know, my family, like I always talk about. I started working with a mental coach, Tarek Kazim. And, you know, like these guys that just helped me through these periods. And, you know, it's credit to them. And I feel like, you know, I found a really good spot mentally. And, you know, as a footballer, you just ride that out.

12:24And that's the thing to do. I want to talk about Tariq in one moment, because it is really fascinating. Marshawn Lynch's coach was how he broke through. But you've just mentioned chance creation was how you're measuring it. You did have nine goal involvements this season for Leeds. But your work rate, we've often talked about, is your true strength. How much does a goal or an assist matter to you? Or do you measure your contribution differently? How do you understand whether you've had a good game or not? What data are you looking at? I know that I have my best games when I'm involved. If you look back at that time period of games, I think I was getting like 60 touches, you know, 65 touches.

12:59And that's when I'm at my best, when I'm busy, when I'm able to get on the ball, when I'm able to be around the ball. People tell me I'm kind of like a little fly, like, you know, I'm able to put in challenges, put people off the ball, you know, stuff like that. And that's when I feel like I play my best football. It's just when I'm involved in the game. And that's just what it started to click when we went to that 5-2-3. I was able to get on the ball higher up the pitch when I wasn't defending so much. So, you know, I had more energy. I was able to go at the defenders more, you know, play a little bit more centrally.

13:24It's just a lot of things, you know, kind of clicked and, you know, fair play to, you know, the coach and how much he believed in me. And we talked about positioning and all those types of things and the assistant coaches too. And it just clicked for me, the positioning. And, yeah, it was just, it worked out. I love that nickname, Little Fly. It is beautiful. I would get that tattooed on my person. I don't want to dwell on this, but it is, you told the beautiful story in December. There were boos from your own fans when you came on the field against Liverpool. Knowing you, so difficult to imagine how that felt.

13:57But you turned it around with your play. And in January, you received a standing ovation when you came off the field in that 1-0 win over Fulham at Ellen Road. And after that, you talked beautifully about your fiancée. You said, she lied to me in the dark times and told me I was not being booed, which is just, it's just amazing on so many levels. But you also added, my greatest quality is being relentless. What did it feel like when, you know, she was, you know, kind of openly lying to you, you know, just with a slight wink to that ovation to go from the friction to the joy inside two months? yeah it's kind of funny because that was actually when my brother and my brother came out to england because he was off and his his girlfriend came out too um so it was those two and then of course melana was at the game and she told him because i had heard you know like i had heard people were booing and stuff like that so i had known but i came in and i remember just being a little angry and i was texting melana like i'm just like you know angry and stuff like that but she said what are you talking about like there was no booze and she basically communicated to my brother and Chloe, like, don't say anything.

15:00Like, they didn't say anything that. And, you know, listen, I respect that because she knows how it probably would have bothered me. But, you know, I think, yeah, it bothers me. But like I talked to you about, you know, my relentlessness to, you know, when I hear stuff like that and when things go on and when I need to get better at stuff, I'm the first one and the last one to get off the pitch. You know, that's how I do my work. You know, I always want to be like, if I didn't score like the goal against Chelsea, you know, I didn't score that goal, but it was, I mean, it would have been an amazing goal in the FA Cups semi-final and of course you know it was a great save from Sanchez but I worked on that shot after the game like 30 more times you know what I mean so that's just how my mind works that's how I want to get better and better and I think that's what all players have to do you know they have to take negative things and they have to just work on them and work on them and I think what I always hear like in any sport you know practice is you know how you are able to have your confidence for the games so you talked about the mental work you've done with Tariq Azim he was a fascinating guy worked with a lot of NFL stars as I said kind of worked out with Marshawn Lynch and that became the beginning of his his platform he hailed you as the beast mode of soccer um that must have felt enormous can you talk about that practice that you now employ mentally I mean he told the story in the article and stuff like this but you know when I had a guy like him you know he came to my game and of course he was coming to watch you know other players and stuff like this because he's involved with the 49ers and stuff like this.

16:23And, you know, when he goes to look at other players and he singles me out and he taught, and I remember meeting him the next day after the game and him talking to me about, you know, you have this thing in you, you know, we want, I want to let it loose. I want to work with you. I want to do these things with you. You know, I think that I can, you know, make you even better. And when you hear stuff like that, especially for a guy like me that I talk to you about, like, I just want to get better and better. I want to be the best player that I can be and I'll do anything to do it, you know? So to hear someone like that to, you know, helped me not mentally, but on the performance side of things, you know, because he's a performance coach, I think, you know, like, of course, mentally, he's very good.

16:54And he helps on that side, but also the performance side of things, which I classify a bit differently than mental. It's fascinating. And for me, it was just like, of course, you know, I'm going to take this opportunity to work with you. And for him to, first of all, pick me out and say that, you know, I can be this player, this, that, you know, that's already given you a big boost. And you have that all that confidence from it, too, because he's worked with some of the greatest athletes in the world so it was a really amazing moment for me and now our relationship is just built what do you think he saw in it you know when i'm on the pitch of course i do whatever i can for my team to win and you know my drive to of course you know run and you know work and do whatever i can on the pitch and of course you know my ability you know with the ball i think he just saw a lot of things that he i could even get better with you know what i mean you know i think he we talk about it you know my strength i can get even stronger and there's ways of you know getting stronger and he has some little techniques and stuff like this.

17:43So there's so many, you know, little things that we're working on that, you know, it just excites me. What about mentally? Mentally, it was, you know, of course you're a footballer. You're going to go through so many things mentally, you know what I mean? Especially like you're lying to yourself if it's not going to bother you when you get booed or something like this, you know what I mean? You're going to be bothered by it, but you know, just being able to talk to him to have someone to talk to that's, you know, worked with the best athletes in the world, you know, who's, you know, basically help them through moments like this you know because they've gone through themselves and being able to listen to him and hear what he has to say about you know just keeping my confidence through it all you know like believing in myself you know like pushing things away like i get down on myself if i don't in games like sometimes when we're defending we're playing against the best teams i feel like i have to do something because i take it upon myself i feel like i have to get on the ball more stuff like this but he's helped me like flush it out almost and do what i can control almost you know what i mean and that's big for me like being able to like control what I can control.

18:38So that was just one of many things that I've learned. When he called you the beast mode of soccer, you must have loved that. Yeah, I did. Because to be honest, like he calls me a beast and stuff like this. But for him to say it in the article like that, it was, you know, it's unbelievable. And it makes me feel, of course, even more confident. It makes me feel really good about myself. So, yeah, it was good. Is there part of you that feels very Philadelphia still, even after all these years in Europe, part of your game that is still Philadelphia? 100%. I think, you know, I've always been, I always say South Jersey, Philly, because South Jersey basically is Philadelphia.

19:07It's like we say South Jersey is Philly and North Jersey is New York. Of course, Tyler Adams is the New York guy. I think Matt Turner is a North Jersey guy, of course. So he's all New York fans. But it's like two different states. So it's like South Jersey and North Jersey. But, yeah, I mean, I think the Philly grit and, you know, growing up in the Philadelphia Union Academy, you know, I think we always had that kind of not ego in a way, but like that characteristics in Philadelphia. I feel like all the guys that there's three guys here with me now that all kind of have that characteristic too.

19:36So yeah, the South Jersey Philly, you know, grind is definitely a man. You've had to constantly prove yourself throughout your career and you've constantly done it. Who's harder to win over, the hungry American fan base or the great people of Yorkshire? Listen, both are fantastic. And you know, the thing that I respect most, and I know this isn't, I should probably, but I want to go on about it. It's just the, you know, the Leeds United fans for me are just unbelievable. Wherever we go, they are there, they are the loudest and they are the best fan base ever, I swear. It's unbelievable. And the value that they give us, I mean, in Ellen Road, I think I saw something like, it was like a Real Madrid Galacticos picture.

20:13And it was like, it was Leeds United at like a Friday night at 8 p.m. Because at one point we didn't lose a game at 8 p.m. on Friday. So it was like insane. Like we beat everybody. So it was just funny seeing that. And, you know, I mean, they're the main reason why we're able to do what we do. And they push us on in that stadium. So I can't pick one or the other. And of course, you know, the U.S. fans are fantastic too. So it's tough. Friday night, 8 p.m., three points in the back. Why even play the game? Yeah. To the United States and this World Cup ahead, we find you in camp. You're in Fayetteville, Georgia.

20:45As you said, the World Cup on home turf is so unbelievably close. But what does it feel like? First day at camp, is it like high school? Everyone's buzzing. You're all checking out each other's new haircuts. Yeah, I mean, you know, being here is just, you know, a dream come true. I think, you know, seeing everybody, everybody's got all their, you know, haircuts for the world cup and stuff like that and i'm sure they're gonna get even more um but yeah i mean just being here with the guys you know we saw the facility for the first time today it's it's unbelievable it is unbelievable like that what they've done here and what u.s soccer has done is top notch and i can't say more about how amazing everything looks and they've they always do such a good job even at the last world cup the setup and everything it was it was really state of the art and unbelievable so to be here at this you know world cup and to be meeting in atlanta and seeing the facility and everything in training there, it's been really, really amazing.

21:36Who are you closest to on the squad, Brendan? I like to say that, I mean, I love being with everybody, to be honest with you. But the guys that, you know, I've known for such a long time and have been close with, of course, you know, Tyler's a very good friend of mine. We played a year in Leeds United together, and, you know, we just clicked. We're very similar, I would say. Joe Scali and Gio are my two guys that, you know, we goof around a lot. We have fun together. They're really good guys too, and I really love them. But yeah, I could go on about everybody. I love the group that we have here.

22:04I get along with really everybody on this team. And you don't say that normally. You don't say that about when you're on national teams. Some people will not get along with this, that. But on this team, everybody's an amazing person. So it's really easy. What's Mauricio Pochettino's initial message to the players? I think it was special because we had a meeting today and it was just great to hear him speak about basically no regrets was the first thing he said. No regrets. This is the tournament where we're going to walk in And I want you guys on the couch after the tournament watching something to feel like you went to the World Cup and you gave it your all.

22:36So you're sitting there and you're not having any regrets. I think that's the biggest thing because, you know, of course, you know, the nerves, the the, you know, the pressures, everything that can get to you in moments. But I think, you know, hearing just a little thing with the guy, I mean, he's been through so much. You know, he's been to a World Cup. He's been left off of two rosters, like he's told us. So he's been through it all. And to hear him say something like that, just, you know, it means something. And, you know, you think about it and you kind of take it back and we all just have to play with no fear.

22:59We're speaking after the first training session. What are the trainings like when you're all one team and deeply connected and you feel so close to so many of the other players, but you're also battling for playing time and you've got limited time to show what you can do to earn a start? To be honest, when you come to the World Cup, I think that competing, of course, you want to play. Everybody wants to play, but I think everybody's in that headspace that you're going to do whatever you can to help this team. You know, I think that's the most that's the beautiful thing about the World Cup is everybody kind of comes together and is like, you know, this is what we're going to do.

23:32We're going to do the best best that we can for any situation that we're put in. And the trainings, you know, today was a great introductory day to get into it again and to be able to, you know, connect again and play our football. We want to play high pressing football and do, you know, what we do best. And of course, it fits a lot of our players. So it's great. And like I said, you know, it's the first training session, so it was quick and intense. And that's what you need just to get used to playing with each other again. When Potch became the manager, I think it was one of his first press conferences, October 2024, he talked about you in incredibly positive terms, Brendan, and then added, it's true that he's playing in too many different positions.