Christian Pulisic has expressed that questioning someone’s commitment to the U.S. men’s national team feels unfair.
The midfielder is facing criticism from USMNT legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard after he opted out of the upcoming Gold Cup. On CBS Sports Golazo’s “Call It What You Want” show, he defended his choice, emphasizing that he is not swayed by the opinions of his childhood heroes.
“The way they approach me, showing support and wanting to connect, especially with some of them personally, it’s a bit contradictory,” Pulisic said. “Does it hurt me? Not really, but it is surprising.” He feels that questioning his dedication crosses a line.
After spending nine months with AC Milan, Pulisic requested USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino to remove him from the Gold Cup roster.
“My body was telling me something towards the end of the season, and I had to think about what was best for the World Cup coming up next year,” Pulisic discussed on his podcast. “Was it worth playing more games without a break, heading into a demanding preseason? I didn’t think that would be beneficial for my health.”
Pulisic had previously asked to play in two friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland, but the coach declined, opting to maintain the roster for the Gold Cup.
“I respect that decision, though I didn’t quite understand it,” Pulisic added.
Over the weekend, Donovan made remarks during the UEFA Nations League final that seemed to indirectly criticize Fox Sports. Meanwhile, Howard has voiced concerns about Pochettino’s approach on a recent episode of a podcast, questioning whether the coach knows his best strategy in challenging situations.
Pulisic’s father, Mark, took to social media, posting a humorous exchange with ChatGPT regarding Donovan’s break from soccer in 2012-13.
The Gold Cup roster also includes players like Antonee Robinson (recovering from knee surgery) and Weston McKennie, while others are absent due to various factors.
