Christian Pulisic Reflects on Scoring Ahead of USMNT Friendly

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Christian Pulisic shared that he feels like he has a chance to score “every game,” though he admits he gets a bit tired of discussing it. For the USMNT star, the best way to put an end to those conversations is to find the back of the net—something he hasn’t done since December.

“No matter how tough things get, I try to focus on the positives,” Pulisic remarked on Saturday. “I’ve faced challenges like this before in my career. Sometimes, the ball just happens to bounce in your favor. After that, everything feels okay. That’s just how it goes. I’m feeling pretty confident right now.”

Apart from staying injury-free—something coach Mauricio Pochettino emphasized as a primary goal for Sunday’s friendly against Senegal—Pulisic scoring would be a significant takeaway for the USMNT as they gear up for their upcoming matches.

In March, the team suffered two back-to-back losses to tough competitors, but a draw or win against a resilient Senegal team wouldn’t be considered a failure.

While Senegal may not have the same reputation as teams like Belgium or Portugal—who bested the USMNT in March—they are still formidable in their own right.

Senegal, champions of the Africa Cup of Nations as of January, had their title rescinded after players protested a penalty during a match. Their roster boasts exceptional talent, including winger Sadio Mane, striker Nicholas Jackson, and center-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

“They didn’t win AFCON for nothing,” center back Mark McKenzie noted. “Their ability as a team is impressive. For us, it’s about honing our tactics while also preparing for what lies ahead in this tournament.”

While winning in a friendly doesn’t carry much weight, what matters more is the USMNT fine-tuning their strategies and settling important lineup questions, including those surrounding the goalkeeping competition between Matt Freeze and Matt Turner.

Although Freeze had been the top choice last year, Turner’s performance, especially during the last World Cup in Qatar, where he netted a goal against Belgium, has opened up the competition.

“You want to consider your past work with the national team, but club performance is crucial too,” Turner explained. “Even if you’re not fully engaged with the national team, excelling at the club level helps build trust with the coach.”

Pochettino indicated on Saturday that he would aim to reduce unnecessary risks by rotating players frequently during the matches.

Considering that Senegal has a different playing style than Paraguay, who the USMNT will face in the group stage, it’s best to be cautious in predicting how one game will influence the next.

A win would absolutely shift the narrative around the USMNT and serve as a morale booster for a team that felt down after March.

Pulisic’s scoring could also reignite enthusiasm for the team’s most recognized player.

“Absolutely, a good result would boost our confidence,” Pulisic acknowledged. “We want to start strong and aim for a positive outcome. I’m sure we’ll experiment with formations and rotations. It might not be the same as the last World Cup match, but we’re aiming to play well and achieve good results.”