Pochettino Warns Omitted U.S. Stars: ‘Nobody has a spot for positive’

Any notion that there might be some lingering animosity between U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic and coach Mauricio Pochettino was quashed by the Argentine manager.

“There’s nothing to talk [about],” Pochettino mentioned Tuesday. “I feel it’s behind us, all that occurred in summer time. And I feel now we have to look ahead.”

To recap: Citing fatigue after two grueling European seasons, Pulisic requested Pochettino if he may play in two pre-Gold Cup tuneups in early June however take the continental championship off. Pochettino mentioned no, citing his choice to have one group all summer time. Then, in a June 12 interview with CBS, Pulisic mentioned he “didn’t perceive” that call. On June 14, Pochettino responded: “I don’t want for him to know our choice. … Gamers have to pay attention and to stay with our plan. They can not dictate our plan.”

Pulisic headlined the 22-player roster that Pochettino dropped Tuesday forward of subsequent week’s friendlies towards Korea Republic in New Jersey and one other exhibition with Japan Sept. 9 in Columbus, Ohio. An extra participant can be added within the coming days.

Talking with reporters after Tuesday’s roster announcement, Pochettino confirmed that he hasn’t spoken to Pulisic since. However he additionally mentioned there aren’t any unresolved points between the coach and this system’s most embellished attacking participant.

“The plan for Christian now’s to name [him in] and to see him on this camp, and naturally hope that he arrives in good situation,” Pochettino mentioned. “He had a great preseason with Milan, together with his staff, and is able to compete. That’s an important factor.”

Pulisic has performed greater than 100 matches for AC Milan since transferring from Chelsea — the place he received the UEFA Champions League crown in 2021 — simply over two years in the past. He led Milan in scoring final season and had a purpose for the Rossoneri final week in an Italian Cup win over Bari.

Different USMNT mainstays who additionally missed the Gold Cup however at the moment are again embrace Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest and Josh Sargent. 

Extra attention-grabbing had been the names not included. 2022 World Cup veterans Weston McKennie, Mark McKenzie, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, Joe Scally, Matt Turner, Haji Wright and Walker Zimmerman had been all omitted regardless of being wholesome, although Jedi simply returned from damage. Central midfield trio Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann, all of whom have began the brand new European season robust, may also stay with their membership groups this month.

Of their locations are a number of MLS gamers who helped a comparatively unheralded USMNT facet attain the Gold Cup last final month, similar to Diego Luna and Sebastian Berhalter. There’s additionally uncapped newcomers Noahkai Banks, Tristan Blackmon, and Roman Celentano. Jonathan Klinsmann, a 28-year-old goalkeeper and the son of 2014 U.S. World Cup coach Jurgen Klinsmann, was additionally referred to as up.

“It is the final alternative to deliver some new faces,” mentioned Pochettino, who could have simply three extra two-match camps — one every in October, November and March — after this one. 

After than, he’ll submit his final-26 participant checklist for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that can be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  Pochettino has now summoned greater than 60 completely different gamers since taking the U.S. job 11 months in the past. 

“The gamers not right here, they do not have to be fearful. They should carry out, and they should actually imagine that they are often a part of the squad,” subsequent summer time.

McKennie’s omission was significantly noteworthy. A lineup lock since marking his U.S. debut with a purpose towards Portugal as a 19-year-old in 2017, the rugged central midfielder has began the season on the bench for Italian behemoth Juventus, the place he’s been an everyday starter for the final 5 seasons.

Pochettino famous that McKennie had an abbreviated preseason as a result of Juve was concerned within the FIFA Membership World Cup this summer time. 

“We wished to offer [McKennie] the chance to be extra settled in his membership, to be in his greatest kind,” the coach mentioned.

He additionally addressed Reyna’s current switch from Borussia Dortmund to Borussia Mönchengladbach, which ended a chronic switch saga. 

“I’m so completely happy, as a result of I feel he is completely happy,” Pochettino mentioned of the 22-year-old. “If he is completely happy, for positive he has the expertise to carry out. If he performs, it’s going to be good for the nationwide staff.

“When a participant shouldn’t be taking part in,” he added, “It is troublesome to be completely happy and to indicate your actual expertise.”

All of that appears affordable, to make sure. Nonetheless, Pochettino was additionally making a not-too-subtle assertion by leaving so many acquainted names residence subsequent month. The hope is that it’ll profit the Individuals when it actually issues: on the World Cup.

“Once you handle 60-65 gamers, on the finish, to scale back to 26 shouldn’t be simple,” Pochettino mentioned. “All of the gamers within the completely different camps previously, we actually understand how they’re, what they’ll present to the staff. It is as much as them to carry out and to indicate that they’re determined to come back to the nationwide staff.

“In the event that they carry out, for positive they will have the [opportunity to return],” Pochettino added. “However nobody has a spot for positive. That’s my message for everybody: That [they] have to struggle.”

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has coated United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication each day!

---

---