Christian Pulisic Defends Decision to Skip Gold Cup
Christian Pulisic, the midfielder for AC Milan and the U.S. men’s national team, has pushed back against negative comments from former U.S. players regarding his choice to skip the Concacaf Gold Cup this year. He deemed their criticisms as unwarranted and expressed that he stands firmly behind his decision.
Reasons for Absence
After two back-to-back seasons with over 50 appearances for AC Milan, Pulisic chose to take a break last month in order to recuperate ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This choice was made after discussions with U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino and other officials from U.S. Soccer.
The announcement of his absence led to backlash, particularly from the likes of former U.S. international Landon Donovan, who expressed frustration over players opting out of national team commitments. In response to the criticism, Pulisic’s father, Mark, reminded critics of Donovan’s own decision to take a break from the national team during his career.
Response to Criticism
During a conversation on the “Call It What You Want” podcast, Pulisic mentioned,
“You can critique my performances as much as you want, but to question my dedication to the national team is unacceptable to me.”
He revealed that he held the former players in high regard, which made their remarks even more difficult for him to digest:
“I looked up to a lot of these players, and they were my heroes growing up. It’s disheartening when their private messages of support contrast with their public statements. While it doesn’t hurt me personally, I’m not surprised; everyone is entitled to their opinions. My focus remains on self-improvement.”
Pulisic indicated a desire to participate in the recent friendlies this summer but noted that Pochettino preferred to maintain a singular roster that covered both the friendlies and the Gold Cup. The impact of his absence was felt during the team’s recent matches, including a 2-1 loss to Turkey and a heavy 4-0 defeat against Switzerland.
Looking Forward
Reflecting on his choice, Pulisic maintained that he has no regrets.
“I believe it was the right decision for me. I currently feel great and am optimistic about beginning training soon. This break will allow me to address areas I want to improve in, putting me in an excellent position for the upcoming season. I stand by my choice,”
he concluded.
