The USMNT faces significant absences leading up to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, notably missing star player Christian Pulisic. His non-injury-related absence has sparked outrage among fans.
Despite being considered one of the favorites to win the Concacaf Gold Cup, the USMNT arrives at the prestigious competition without Christian Pulisic, one of its main stars. Contrary to the absences of Florian Balogun or Ricardo Pepi, the now AC Milan star Pulisic is not absent due to injury, as the reason is surprising and outraged many fans.
According to a USMNT report, Pulisic skipped the tournament for personal reasons. However, he clarified on CBS Sports’ “Call It What You Want” podcast. Pulisic felt he needed a break after playing about 120 games over the past two years. Nevertheless, he expressed that he wanted to play in preparatory matches against Switzerland and Turkey. Yet, head coach Mauricio Pochettino chose not to call him up.
Following these statements, Mauricio did not hesitate to give some clear explanations about Pulisic’s absence. “Players need to listen and to stick with our plan… 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.”
Despite the controversy, Pochettino expresses maintaining strong relationships with Pulisic and the other team member.s The latter suggests that they remain integral to his plans. Yet, USMNT legend Landon Donovan criticized Pulisic’s decision, sparking debate among fans.
Not only Donovan but also many fans see Pulisic’s gesture as contempt for the national team as Tyler Adams, Max Tillman, Chris Richards and Johny Cardoso also play at the elite level and still decided to participate in the Gold Cup. While his decision was not appreciated by USMNT fans, AC Milan fans look at it as a gesture of professionalism after prioritizing the team that pays his salary, showing his commitment.
Was it a mistake for Christian Pulisic to prioritize rest to stay in top form for AC Milan’s 2025-26 season?
Christian Pulisic’s choice to skip the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup has sparked debate. However, his injury history may justify his decision. During his early years at Borussia Dortmund, Pulisic stayed relatively healthy. Yet, his move to Chelsea marked a turning point, as he missed 420 days over four seasons, resulting in a permanent transfer from the English side.
Now at AC Milan, Pulisic seems to have found an ideal fit. He has mostly avoided the serious injuries that once plagued him. Nevertheless, the risk of injury remains high without adequate rest. Participating in the Gold Cup could have disrupted his momentum if he had suffered a serious injury. For these reasons, the Italian side fans appreciate his choice, understanding the physical strain he could have faced during the 2025-26 season.
From: bolavip.com
