Skip to main content
Știri
Transferuri

Mauricio Pochettino’s fringe players are getting a chance to impress for the USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino’s fringe players are getting a chance to impress for the USMNT

Partajează

Mauricio Pochettino and Christian Pulisic’s public war of words has been an unwelcome backdrop to the USA’s last summer before the 2026 World Cup.

By Graham Ruthven

For the first time in a while, the first question asked of Mauricio Pochettino in a press conference wasn’t about Christian Pulisic. Instead, the US men’s national team head coach spoke about a 5-0 demolition of Trinidad & Tobago to open the 2025 Gold Cup. Pochettino, also for the first time in a while, had something to smile about.

It’s been a tough stretch for the USMNT. With the 2026 World Cup on home soil now less than a year away, Pochettino is struggling to get to grips with the squad he has been handed. He’s also struggling to get some of his best players in line, not least his captain Pulisic who isn’t playing in this summer’s Gold Cup.

This, according to the Milan winger, was to give him the best chance of a successful 2025/26 season leading into the World Cup. Pulisic has a long history of injury troubles and so it’s understandable that after a gruelling 2024/25 campaign which saw him play over 3,500 minutes in all competitions he is mindful of his body’s needs.

The USMNT have needs too, though, and many, possibly including Pochettino, believe Pulisic has turned his back on his team when they need him most. Indeed, the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss didn’t respond warmly to Pulisic’s suggestion that he could play two friendlies against Türkiye and Switzerland before skipping the Gold Cup.

“Players need to listen and to stick with our plan,” said Pochettino. “They cannot dictate the plan. The most important thing is that we explain why we decided not to include him in the two friendly games. And then if you have some problems, no, that is not my problem to understand. When I signed my contract in the federation, I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin.”

It’s not just Pulisic who is missing from the USA’s Gold Cup squad, it’s Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi too. Some are absent through injury. Others are at the Club World Cup. The consequence is that Pochettino is is counting on a squad of youngsters and fringe players this summer.

This, however, might be to the USMNT head coach’s preference. His best players have so far failed to embrace his ideas and methods, as demonstrated by the lacklustre CONCACAF Nations League defeats to Panama and Canada in March, and so this is an opportunity for Pochettino to get a closer look at some alternatives. 

A number of those alternatives caught the eye against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday. Malik Tillman was chief among them, scoring his first two goals in a USA jersey. Not only this, the PSV playmaker was a creative influence, completing more passes in the final third and key passes than any other USA player. It was the sort of performance USMNT fans have long wanted from Tillman.

Jack McGlynn also made an impact. Deployed in an unorthodox role on the right wing, the Houston Dynamo midfielder opened up angles for the USMNT with his passing range. This was after McGlynn found the back of the net from distance in the recent friendly defeat to Türkiye. He offers something different.

Then there’s Diego Luna, the USMNT player who reflects what Pochettino wants better than anyone else. The Real Salt Lake number 10 plays with the sort of energy and intensity Pochettino craves from the rest of his squad. Luna is always looking for the ball. He wants to get in between the lines.

Six months ago, Luna had yet to make his senior international debut. Now, he’s the beating heart of Pochettino’s USA, and therein is the encouragement for the fringe figures looking to make a good impression at the Gold Cup. A good showing this summer could change the World Cup outlook for several players.

Alex Freeman surely has his sights set on a place in Pochettino’s World Cup roster. The 20-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough year for Orlando City and already looks comfortable in the USMNT set-up as Pochettino’s starting right back for the Gold Cup. Freeman is well-rounded and gives the US a number of different looks in an attacking and defensive sense.

Matt Freese is also making his case for a World Cup spot, and not just as a squad player either. Matt Turner’s lack of first team action at club level and repeated mistakes for the USMNT means Freese could be Pochettino’s first-choice goalkeeper should he continue to look solid at the Gold Cup. 

It could be strongly argued that this summer is a wasted opportunity for the USMNT as the clock counts down to a home World Cup. Pochettino, on the other hand, might see it as a chance to send a message to his under-performing stars while opening the door to others who could, at the very least, reinvigorate things. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Gold Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mauricio Pochettino’s fringe players are getting a chance to impress for the USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino and Christian Pulisic’s public war of words has been an unwelcome backdrop to the USA’s last summer before the 2026 World Cup.

By Graham Ruthven

For the first time in a while, the first question asked of Mauricio Pochettino in a press conference wasn’t about Christian Pulisic. Instead, the US men’s national team head coach spoke about a 5-0 demolition of Trinidad & Tobago to open the 2025 Gold Cup. Pochettino, also for the first time in a while, had something to smile about.

It’s been a tough stretch for the USMNT. With the 2026 World Cup on home soil now less than a year away, Pochettino is struggling to get to grips with the squad he has been handed. He’s also struggling to get some of his best players in line, not least his captain Pulisic who isn’t playing in this summer’s Gold Cup.

This, according to the Milan winger, was to give him the best chance of a successful 2025/26 season leading into the World Cup. Pulisic has a long history of injury troubles and so it’s understandable that after a gruelling 2024/25 campaign which saw him play over 3,500 minutes in all competitions he is mindful of his body’s needs.

The USMNT have needs too, though, and many, possibly including Pochettino, believe Pulisic has turned his back on his team when they need him most. Indeed, the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss didn’t respond warmly to Pulisic’s suggestion that he could play two friendlies against Türkiye and Switzerland before skipping the Gold Cup.

“Players need to listen and to stick with our plan,” said Pochettino. “They cannot dictate the plan. The most important thing is that we explain why we decided not to include him in the two friendly games. And then if you have some problems, no, that is not my problem to understand. When I signed my contract in the federation, I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin.”

It’s not just Pulisic who is missing from the USA’s Gold Cup squad, it’s Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi too. Some are absent through injury. Others are at the Club World Cup. The consequence is that Pochettino is is counting on a squad of youngsters and fringe players this summer.

This, however, might be to the USMNT head coach’s preference. His best players have so far failed to embrace his ideas and methods, as demonstrated by the lacklustre CONCACAF Nations League defeats to Panama and Canada in March, and so this is an opportunity for Pochettino to get a closer look at some alternatives. 

A number of those alternatives caught the eye against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday. Malik Tillman was chief among them, scoring his first two goals in a USA jersey. Not only this, the PSV playmaker was a creative influence, completing more passes in the final third and key passes than any other USA player. It was the sort of performance USMNT fans have long wanted from Tillman.

Jack McGlynn also made an impact. Deployed in an unorthodox role on the right wing, the Houston Dynamo midfielder opened up angles for the USMNT with his passing range. This was after McGlynn found the back of the net from distance in the recent friendly defeat to Türkiye. He offers something different.

Then there’s Diego Luna, the USMNT player who reflects what Pochettino wants better than anyone else. The Real Salt Lake number 10 plays with the sort of energy and intensity Pochettino craves from the rest of his squad. Luna is always looking for the ball. He wants to get in between the lines.

Six months ago, Luna had yet to make his senior international debut. Now, he’s the beating heart of Pochettino’s USA, and therein is the encouragement for the fringe figures looking to make a good impression at the Gold Cup. A good showing this summer could change the World Cup outlook for several players.

Alex Freeman surely has his sights set on a place in Pochettino’s World Cup roster. The 20-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough year for Orlando City and already looks comfortable in the USMNT set-up as Pochettino’s starting right back for the Gold Cup. Freeman is well-rounded and gives the US a number of different looks in an attacking and defensive sense.

Matt Freese is also making his case for a World Cup spot, and not just as a squad player either. Matt Turner’s lack of first team action at club level and repeated mistakes for the USMNT means Freese could be Pochettino’s first-choice goalkeeper should he continue to look solid at the Gold Cup. 

It could be strongly argued that this summer is a wasted opportunity for the USMNT as the clock counts down to a home World Cup. Pochettino, on the other hand, might see it as a chance to send a message to his under-performing stars while opening the door to others who could, at the very least, reinvigorate things. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Gold Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.