New US coach Mauricio Pochettino hails Christian Pulisic but worries over workload

MIAMI – New United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has hailed AC Milan’s American winger Christian Pulisic as one of the best forwards in the world, but has warned he may need to limit the player’s workload.

Pochettino will take charge of the US for the first time on Oct 12 (Oct 13 morning, Singapore time) in Austin when his team take on Panama in a friendly.

The Argentinian will then take his side to Mexico for another friendly in Guadalajara on Oct 15 to conclude his first window since being appointed to replace Gregg Berhalter.

Pulisic, who made his debut for his country as a 17-year-old, has amassed 73 caps at the age of 26 and is enjoying a rich run of form with his club in Serie A.

The former Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea winger has featured in all seven league games for Milan, scoring five goals and has two Champions League appearances, netting against Liverpool.

Pochettino did not hold back in his assessment of Pulisic’s talent.

“(He’s) a great player, fantastic player, a player that I think is going to help now and in the future to put the team in a place that we want. I think he is a fantastic player, one of the best offensive players in the world,” he said.

But the former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain manager suggested Pulisic’s workload will need to be carefully managed. “He is playing every single game, every minute, that is also a thing that we are a little bit worried (about),” he said.

“Sometimes we need to protect, because he arrived a little bit tired. But that is a thing that I told before – to build a very good relationship with the club and try to help and when we really need him, he needs to be in form, happy, strong.

“The quality is there because he has an enormous talent.”

Pochettino also said he would not be taking any gambles with player fitness during the two friendly games.

“(On Saturday) we want to put in place 11 players that feel fresh and with the possibility to compete at their best and not to take risks because that is another thing that I wanted to tell you... that we are not going to take risks with our players,” he said.

“We need to be responsible also with the clubs. We need to send them (back) in the same, not in worse (shape).”

Some of Pochettino’s players have said the preparation this week has been “intense”, but the coach said that did not purely reflect the physical aspect of training but simply the players adapting to his approach to the game.

“We are a coaching staff that we demand a lot, I think, because we really believe that you want to compete in your best, you need to train, replicate the intensity that is going to be demanded in the competition,” he said.

The 52-year-old, whose most recent role was at Chelsea after Pulisic left for Milan, said that despite all, that he had been pleased to see a positive attitude from the team, which had been criticised for their recent displays that saw just one win in their last seven games.

“One thing that the 25 players share is the motivation to be here and to play for the national team. That is amazing, how excited to come here,” he said.

But he added that it would take time for the team to adapt to the new coaching staff.

“The important thing is to talk and to know (each other) outside of the field. And then (for us) to know them also on the pitch,” he said.

With fewer than two years left before the United States co-hosts the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, Pochettino will hope to instil some confidence in his team.

In their past four matches in all competitions, the US have scored first on two occasions but failed to win. They have also not beaten a Concacaf opponent since defeating Mexico 2-0 in the Nations League final in March. AFP