Pulisic’s Status Uncertain for U.S. Match Against Ecuador

AUSTIN, Texas – U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino announced on Thursday that Christian Pulisic did not participate in training and is questionable for Friday’s match against Ecuador.

“I need to communicate that we have some issues in some players, like Christian [Pulisic], who didn’t train today,” Pochettino said. He also noted that Alejandro Zendejas and Antonee Robinson were absent from training. “We need to assess tomorrow [if] they can be available or not.”

Earlier in the day, Pulisic spoke to the media but did not indicate any injury concerns. He emphasized the importance of the national team securing both good performances and results during this international window, which includes a future match against Australia next Tuesday in Colorado.

“It’s as simple as that,” Pulisic said. “We want to kind of understand and know where our team is at and have a good feeling going forward as we get closer to the summer.”

Pulisic traveled to Austin in strong form, having recently been named Serie A player of the month while playing for AC Milan, tallying six goals and two assists. Despite missing a penalty in a recent match against Juventus, he remains a crucial player for both club and country.

The forward previously took a break from the Gold Cup to recuperate before the preseason with Milan, a decision that sparked debate among fans and pundits. “I worked really hard this summer,” Pulisic stated. “It’s not like I just took a break. I wanted to make sure that my body was in the perfect spot coming into the season.”

The U.S. will rely heavily on Pulisic’s performance as the World Cup approaches. He has primarily played on the wing but recently adapted to a more central attacking role under Pochettino’s 3-4-2-1 formation.

“I think I can do well in a lot of the attacking positions,” Pulisic said. “I’ve always been pretty comfortable in that position. It allows me to use some of my strengths.”

The coaching staff hopes to translate Pulisic’s club success to the international stage while building momentum following their previous victory over Japan. Pulisic emphasized that continuous improvement is key for the team’s future.

“I think we’re settling in well,” Pulisic said. “Now it’s about building good performances one after the other. After last camp feeling good, now it’s a great opportunity.”