(Reuters) -United States manager Mauricio Pochettino is eager to see how his side fare against Mexico in Sunday's Gold Cup final, saying it may well be the team's final chance to compete under real pressure before next year's FIFA World Cup.

“Pressure is a privilege.” The famous phrase comes from one of the greatest tennis players, Billie Jean King, who won 12 Grand Slam titles and broke barriers in sport. For the U.S. men, it’s a similar case as they look for an eighth Gold Cup title against Mexico.

That “connection between the fans and the team,” Pochettino said, “that is the connection that we [would] like to see in the World Cup. That connection that makes you fly.”