WhoScored Exclusive: Kevin Paredes discusses Hasenhuttl, Pochettino and WhoScored Strengths

It's been a stop-start few months for Kevin Paredes. The 21-year-old started all four games for the USA at the Olympics, netting twice in the 3-0 win over Guinea to book their place in the knockout stages in France. USA ultimately crashed out at the hands of Morocco in their first knockout game but the expectation was that Paredes was set to become a mainstay in the Wolfsburg XI. 

Paredes started 15 games for the German side last season, and featured from the bench a further 13 times. However, disaster for the youngster struck back in August when he suffered a foot injury that has kept the versatile US international sidelined for the last couple of months. However, once Paredes does get back up to speed, he’ll get the chance for work under one of the more familiar names in football management. 

A little over a month ago, Mauricio Pochettino took over as USMNT head coach, succeeding Gregg Berhalter in the role. It was quite a coup for the US Men’s National Team. Pochettino had guided Chelsea to sixth last season, only to be relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge back in May. This is a manager who has coached Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea, three recognisable names in the game, and his appointment has certainly raised not only expectations; but excitement levels too. 

“I'm really excited to work under him when it's my time,” Paredes said exclusively to WhoScored.com. “To have a new coach like this with such great experience as our head coach now of USA, I think that's something that is going to raise our games and raise expectations for all players.” While things haven’t gone quite according to plan for Pochettino, with the USMNT beating Panama 2-0 before losing 2-0 to rivals Mexico this month, it’s hard for the players and supporters to not get excited at the prospect of working under the Argentine. 

With the aim for Pochettino and the US to make an impact at the 2026 World Cup on home turf, Paredes is one of a number of American players now starring in one of Europe’s top leagues. Paredes alone isn’t the only American player plying their trade in the Bundesliga, with Giovanni Reyna and Joe Scally two fellow USA internationals playing in Germany’s top tier, and Paredes believes the pair, plus compatriots who previously played in the division, have helped raise the profile of the game back in the US. 

“These two (Reyna and Scally) have been playing in the Bundesliga for quite some time now,” Paredes said. “They've done amazing things for their clubs as well. Past American players like [Christian] Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams also helped the move for us young players to come to the Bundesliga, but definitely Gio and Joe have definitely done their part in raising awareness back in the United States and German football as well.” 

The success of his international teammates also convinced Paredes to make the move to Germany, with the player adding: “They got the likes of me to come over as well because I saw how well they were doing. So they definitely did their thing, and a lot of players would love to come play in Germany just like myself.” 

With the international break now over, attention turns back to domestic duties as Wolfsburg gear up for Sunday’s welcome of Werder Bremen. With Paredes back in group training, there is a chance he’ll be fit to make the matchday squad this weekend as he continues to grow under Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Austrian took over the Wolfsburg reins back in March and guided the Wolves away from the relegation zone. 

He's another esteemed coach Paredes is working with, with the versatile youngster speaking highly of Hasenhuttl. When asked on the prospect of playing under the Austrian and Pochettino for club and country, respectively, Paredes said: “I think it's really top for my development. I think they can really help me in my game to be more effective - attacking, defensive – [and] just for the team in general. It's definitely exciting times for me as a young guy to be coached under these top coaches.” 

And when Hasenhuttl took over in March, did Paredes notice an immediate change in the style of play on the back of the Austrian’s appointment? “Yeah, definitely. It's definitely direct football. I saw the change as soon as he came, and it's a good positive change for the group. We’re all tuned in and buying into his system and his way of playing. So we're going to implement that as much as we can in the season so that we can get the results that we want.” 

With two highly-rated head coaches overseeing Paredes, the player himself should feel confident about developing his game accordingly to realise his immense potential. In recent seasons, Paredes has developed statistically calculated WhoScored strengths of ‘defensive contribution’ and ‘tackling’, but would the Wolfsburg star-in-the-making feel this is a fair representation of his game? 

“I definitely added this a bit more into my game since coming to Germany. To be comfortable in the league, you need to make tackles. You need to be good defensively because there's a lot of good attacking players. I definitely added this to my game, so it's nice to see that as a more improved stat for me as well.” Having ranked among the top 20 players for tackles per 90 (2.6) in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign, gaining a strength of ‘tackling’ is certainly deserved for Paredes. 

This desire to get stuck in is key for a player of Paredes’ skillset. Indeed, last season he started every position down the left flank for Wolfsburg last season, but the US international is still unsure of his best role in the side. When asked whether he is stronger at left-back or further forward, Paredes said: “I get asked this question all the time and I still don't know the answer! I'm a player that's not shy to play in multiple positions on the field. I love to attack. I like to be closer to goal, to score goals and all that, but at the same time; I love doing the dirty defensive work as well. So either one for me, it's no problem.” 

This positional flexibility is certainly a bonus for Hasenhuttl. Versatile players are becoming more commonplace in the game, with the ability to play a number of roles a desirable trait, and it’s clear that Paredes is trusted to carry out the duties set before him. As such, he could feasibly be considered Hasenhuttl’s perfect ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ operator, which is ideal in a Wolfsburg side that has started in four different formations across six Bundesliga games so far this season. 

Crucially, is that at such a young age there is plenty of time for Paredes to become of a master of these trades. “[A] Young player can also improve in a lot of things,” Paredes said when asked on aspects to his game he feels he can improve upon. “Defensively just being more organised, and attacking; I just would love to score more goals. I think that's the biggest piece as an attacking player to be dangerous, create more assists, create more goals, so definitely add this to my game more this season.” 

Wolfsburg haven’t made the perfect start to the season, with Hasenhuttl’s side returning to Bundesliga action just three points above the relegation playoff spot, but with Paredes set to come back into the matchday squad; the Austrian will have a youngster to call upon who’ll undoubtedly be raring to go to make up for lost time.