Press Conference Highlights
In a recent press conference, Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team, clarified his decision regarding star winger Christian Pulisic‘s participation in upcoming friendly matches leading up to the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Pochettino’s Stance on Team Strategy
Pochettino emphasized that players must adhere to the team’s strategic plan and cannot impose their preferences, stating,
“They cannot dictate the plan.”
Pulisic’s Aspiration to Compete
Pulisic, who has amassed roughly 120 matches over the past two years playing for both AC Milan and the national team, expressed a desire to compete in the friendlies following his request for a break. Although he acknowledged Pochettino’s authority to make such decisions, he admitted his confusion about being left out of the lineup in an interview on the CBS Sports podcast “Call It What You Want.”
“It’s true that he wanted to come to be involved in the two friendly games, but the Gold Cup is an important tournament for us,”
Pochettino remarked, underscoring the significance of the Gold Cup as the team’s final competitive matches before co-hosting the World Cup next year.
Recent Performance and Player Availability
The United States suffered defeats in its recent friendly matches, losing 2-1 to Turkey and 4-0 to Switzerland, marking their first four-game losing streak since 2007. Despite this, Pochettino expressed his intent to uphold a positive rapport with players like Pulisic, reiterating the importance of mutual respect and open communication between the coaching staff and the athletes.
In addition to Pulisic, other key players, including Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, and Sergiño Dest, will also be absent from the Gold Cup due to various injuries and commitments to the Club World Cup. The team’s former World Cup captain, Tyler Adams, remains a question mark for the first match against Trinidad and Tobago because of a foot injury that prevented him from participating in the Switzerland match. Pochettino reported that Adams had begun training and may be available for selection soon.
In discussing the squad’s health, Pochettino also noted that Johnny Cardoso is dealing with an illness, keeping his availability for the tournament uncertain. The USMNT is preparing to face Trinidad and Tobago at PayPal Park in San Jose, knowing the stakes of the Gold Cup and the challenges presented by their current roster limitations.
