CARSON, Calif. — As the United States played Costa Rica in Jurgen Klinsmann’s second game as coach of the national soccer team, a banner draped the knoll at the northern end of Home Depot Center.

The banner featured a likeness of Klinsmann with his fists clenched at his sides and his mouth frozen in a shout. Accompanying the likeness was this caption: In Klinsmann We Trust.

Those words summarized his players’ attitude, though they have yet to win for him.

After Friday night’s 1-0 loss, the United States is 0-1-1 under Klinsmann. Yet in the earliest stages of his tenure, victories are secondary.

“We’re buying into his system and his ideas,” defender Carlos Bocanegra, the team captain, said. “We’re going in with an open mind and that’s the most important thing.”