Pochettino Declares Pulisic Conflict “In The Past” Ahead of USMNT Return

Christian Pulisic is set to make his highly anticipated return to the U.S. Men’s National Team this Saturday against South Korea, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino has firmly stated that the much-discussed rift between them is now resolved.

“For me, it’s in the past,” the Argentine manager declared on Friday, addressing his relationship with the American superstar. Pulisic notably opted out of the Concacaf Gold Cup earlier this summer, choosing rest after his demanding European season with AC Milan. Pochettino acknowledged the human element in such situations, adding, “This type of thing happens; we all make mistakes sometimes because we all read situations in a different way.”

A Summer of Headlines: Pulisic’s Absence and Pochettino’s Stance

While the USMNT impressively advanced to the Gold Cup final, showcasing promising performances from several depth players, the narrative was heavily dominated by Pulisic’s absence and the perceived conflict with Pochettino. The coach revealed that he did not engage in direct talks with Pulisic before extending the call-up for the September friendlies against South Korea and Japan.

“It’s in the past, and we can see now with different players, Christian is happy to be here, of course, he is an important player for us, and I think it’s about building for the World Cup, and I think the mood is good. All is behind us,” Pochettino stated. This contrasts with his prior, more pointed remarks where he asserted he was “not a mannequin” when Pulisic initially requested to participate in pre-Gold Cup friendlies but not the tournament itself.

Pochettino emphasized a collective desire to move forward: “The most important thing in this situation is that we all want to move on and do the right things; it’s about being intelligent.”

Pulisic, for his part, has maintained silence with the media ahead of these crucial September fixtures. However, he has been seen engaging with fans at a training session and was captured in a photo opportunity with former USMNT midfielder and current New York Red Bulls II head coach, Michael Bradley, signaling a positive reintegration into the squad.

MB & CP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/u87bDryrtD

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) September 8, 2025

Reintegrating Key Talents for World Cup Preparations

Pulisic’s last appearance for the USMNT was in the Concacaf Nations League finals in March. His return, alongside other vital players like strikers Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun, marks a significant step in Pochettino’s World Cup preparations. Notably absent from this camp is Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, among other key names, shifting the spotlight to the present squad.

The challenge for Pochettino now is to seamlessly blend the European-based talents, such as Pulisic, with the domestic-based group that demonstrated attacking flair and defensive solidity during the Gold Cup. “Successful is to keep what we started to build in the Gold Cup,” Pochettino explained regarding the September friendlies. “It’s good to win because that gives you the confidence and trust, but I think the objective is to add players, new faces that really start to buy the idea that we started to build when we started the Gold Cup… I think that is why I am a little relaxed that the main group is starting to understand what we want and we want to arrive in the World Cup in our best condition. They need to know each other.”

World Cup Vision: Tactical Identity and Roster Clarity

With just nine months remaining until the World Cup, Pochettino’s focus is clearly on establishing the USMNT’s tactical identity. While the core of the tournament roster is still taking shape, these friendlies against South Korea and Japan are crucial for clarification.

Subsequent fixtures later in 2025, including matches against Ecuador and Australia, will further refine the squad. Pochettino articulated his tactical philosophy, emphasizing a balance between structure and individual brilliance: “I hate, being predictable,” he said. “But you need these types of talents, talented players that can do different things from respecting the organization, but having the possibility to also create the chaos in the opponent because he’s creating the chaos in the other team, but with organization. I don’t know if I can explain, but I try.”

The reintegration of Christian Pulisic and the development of a cohesive unit will be paramount as the USMNT continues its journey toward the global stage.