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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Christian Pulisic: 'I don't regret' skipping Gold Cup, calls some criticism 'way out of line'
Christian Pulisic, speaking for the first time since opting to skip this summer's Gold Cup, said Thursday that he doesn't regret the decision, and called questions about his commitment to the U.S. men's national team "way out of line." Pulisic, in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo's "Call It What You Want," also revealed that he "did want to be a part of" the USMNT's two pre-Gold Cup friendlies, and asked coaches to be included for those games against Türkiye and Switzerland. "And they said no, they only wanted one roster" for both the friendlies and the Gold Cup, Pulisic said. "I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is." Advertisement As for why he didn't want to play in the Gold Cup, a biennial regional tournament, Pulisic said that, "toward the end of the season" with his Italian club AC Milan, "my body just started talking to me, and my mind. And I started to think, 'What is gonna be best for me leading into next year and going into the World Cup?' And was that to play eight more games, and then get no rest at all, go straight into preseason, and grind another season, and go straight into the World Cup? "I had to make the best decision for myself, and also in the long run for my team," Pulisic continued, "even though clearly some people haven't seen it that way." Christian Pulisic gave his first interview since opting to rest this summer, a decision that sparked fierce criticism and controversy, including from former USMNT players. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) (SOPA Images via Getty Images) Pulisic addresses criticism from former USMNT players The decision sparked fierce criticism from both fans and former players. Landon Donovan, perhaps the most famous player in program history until Pulisic came along, rekindled the controversy Sunday while watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal celebrate their UEFA Nations League title. Advertisement "This is what it means to represent your country," Donovan said on the Fox broadcast. "[Ronaldo's] 40 years old. He's played a long-ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding, hurt himself in the process. And I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off." Those comments triggered a response from Pulisic's dad, Mark, who, in an Instagram post, cited Donovan's late-career break from soccer and told the USMNT legend to "look in the mirror + grow a pair." Christian Pulisic liked the post. In Thursday's interview, Pulisic did not name Donovan, but seemed to implicitly address Donovan's comments. "You can talk about my performances, whatever you want," Pulisic said. "But to question my commitment, especially towards the national team, in my opinion, that's way out of line." He later added: "I just don't understand why also so many people are so big on just wanting to give out these takes when they've been through tough moments themselves. I don't understand the idea of wanting to divide this fan base, and bring a negative light over it in any way. But we tend to do that a lot." Advertisement Pulisic also admitted that, in general, the criticism from former players "is tough. You know, I looked up to those guys growing up. Some of these guys were my idols. I respect them so much as players." He said that, privately, some of the former players talk to him "and clearly want to show support, and be your friend and everything. And then they say something slightly different publicly." Pulisic said that he tries to "stay away from" the criticism. Other USMNT players have spoken about tuning out "noise." Tyler Adams told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday that "nothing seeps into my world." On a soon-to-be-released podcast, though, former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard revealed that Pulisic had reached out to him via Instagram, in response to some of Howard's public comments, to say: "I thought you were out of order, I didn't like what you said." (Howard said he gave Pulisic his phone number, and told Pulisic he could call to discuss further.) Advertisement Criticism of the USMNT as a whole ratcheted up in March after losses to Panama and Canada. It crescendoed again this week after a pitiful 4-0 loss to Switzerland, the team's fourth straight defeat. One of the common takes, especially coming out of March, was that this so-called golden generation of players lacked necessary passion and desire to fight for their national team. Pulisic, speaking Thursday, took exception with that line of criticism. "The only thing that does frustrate me is this narrative that people want to create that it's that we don't care, that it's a commitment [issue], and stuff like that," he said. "In my opinion, it can be a lazy take. "We don't step out there and not give 100%," he continued. "It's not something that we do. We all want it so bad." He concluded: "Just to say, always, 'these guys don't care, bring guys that have pride' — like, that's not really the answer, in my opinion. There's a lot more to a soccer game that you need to do to win than to care. And I think a lot of us care." Advertisement Pulisic also stood up for some of his teammates, several of whom are also missing the Gold Cup. "I promise you," he said, after disappointing results at the 2024 Copa América and 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, "we don't just lose these things and move on. We're all pissed about it. Weston [McKennie], Tim [Weah], Yunus [Musah], all these guys ... they're competitors. I talk with these guys regularly. We're sick about it. We want to get back out and win in the biggest games, in the biggest tournaments, on the biggest stages." Pulisic's communication with Pochettino Pulisic also revealed that he's spoken to USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino only once about the summer and his decision. "We had one phone call where we discussed everything," Pulisic said. "He understood where I was coming from. That's as much conversation as I've had with him. We haven't continued to talk." Advertisement When asked by former USMNT forward Charlie Davies, one of the show's three co-hosts, about whether he'd expect more communication, Pulisic said he didn't "have an issue with it," but did acknowledge that Pochettino's approach to communication has been "slightly different with some of my other national coaches." Pulisic: 'You guys will see ... I'm hungrier than ever' Pulisic stood by the Gold Cup decision, in part because, already, after a couple weeks of rest, he's feeling "really good." "I knew how I was feeling towards the end of last season. I was dealing with a couple small things that just kept lingering," he said. Some family time, and some Florida sun, were "just what the doctor ordered," he wrote on Instagram this week. Advertisement "And I'm excited that I'm already gonna start getting back into training again this week and work on some things that I've really wanted to work on myself," he explained Thursday. "And I know it's going to put me in an amazing position leading into next season." "You guys will see, man," he assured the show's co-hosts and viewers. "I'm hungrier than ever, truly. I'm really looking forward for big things to come."
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Christian Pulisic breaks silence on USMNT Gold Cup drama after ‘out of line' jabs by legends
Christian Pulisic believes those questioning his commitment to the U.S. Men's National Team are 'way out of line.' The star winger/midfielder has faced blowback from USMNT legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard for his choice to skip the upcoming Gold Cup, but he told CBS Sports Golazo's 'Call It What You Want' show Thursday that he 'sticks with his decision' — regardless of what his childhood idols might think. 'It's tough, especially when some of them as well even privately, the way they talk to me and clearly want to show support and be a friend and everything, and then it goes and they say something slightly different publicly,' Pulisic said. 'Does it hurt me, am I surprised by it? Not really.' 'To question my commitment, especially towards the national team, in my opinion, that's way out of line.' After playing a nine-month season with AC Milan, Pulisic asked USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino to be left off the roster for the Gold Cup. 'Towards the second half and towards the end of the season, my body just started talking to me and my mind and I started to think what is gonna be best for me leading into next year and going into the World Cup?' Pulisic explained on the podcast. 'And was that to play eight more games and then get no rest at all, go straight into preseason, and then grind another year and go straight into the World Cup? That's not what I felt was best for my body.' 3 Christian Pulisic will not play for the U.S. Men's National Team at this summer's Gold Cup. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Pulisic said he did ask the coaching staff to play in the USMNT's two recent friendlies — against Turkey (June 7) and Switzerland (June 10) — but the coaches declined, opting for roster continuity heading into the Gold Cup. 'I fully respect that,' Pulisic said. 'I didn't understand it, but it is what it is.' Donovan had indirectly criticized Pulisic on Fox Sports over the weekend during the UEFA Nations League final won by Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal team, saying: 'I can't help but think about our guys on vacation not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off.' 3 United States' Landon Donovan controls the ball during a training session on May 14, 2014. AP 3 United States' Tim Howard in a World Cup qualifying match in Sept. 2013. AP Howard, on the May 28 episode of the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, raised concerns that Pochettino would 'not know what his best team is made of in the most difficult moments' with key players like Pulisic skipping the Gold Cup. Pulisic's father, Mark, mocked Donovan by posting a screengrab of him asking ChatGPT about Donovan's sabbatical in 2012-13. The USMNT's Gold Cup roster will also be missing Antonee Robinson (knee surgery), and Weston McKinnie, Gio Reyna and Timothy Weah, who are all playing in the upcoming Club World Cup.
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Christian Pulisic says questioning his commitment to US is ‘totally out of line'
Christian Pulisic said that he asked the US national team coaching staff to be part of the two friendlies preceding the Gold Cup but not the Gold Cup itself – a proposal that was rejected – and defended his decision to step away from the US national team this summer in an interview on Thursday. The interview, which occurred on a live stream of CBS Sports' Call it What You Want podcast, started with Pulisic describing his status at the end of the season with Milan, the second straight campaign that saw him reach the 50-games played mark. Saying that 'my body started talking to me,' Pulisic said he started considering that a break in action may be needed towards the end of the Milan season, with two US friendlies and the Gold Cup on the horizon. 'What is going to be best for me leading into next year and going into the [2026] World Cup? And was that to play eight more games and then get no no rest at all, go straight into preseason and then grind another year and go straight into the World Cup? That's it's not what I felt was best for my body,' Pulisic said. 'I did want to be a part of at least the two friendlies. I did speak with the [US] coaches, and I asked, and [said] I wanted to be a part of the team in whatever capacity I could. And they said no. They said they only wanted one roster, and that's coaches decision. I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is.' As it turned out, Pulisic was just one of a number of US national team star players who would be absent this summer, either due to injury, Club World Cup commitments, or personal reasons. But as his nation's most prominent player and a leader in the locker room, Pulisic's decision drew plenty of criticism, including from former USMNT greats Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. Pulisic directly addressed this criticism, saying that questioning his commitment to the national team was 'way out of line' and does not line up with conversations he has had with those same figures in private. 'When it comes to [Donovan, Howard, and other ex-national team critics], it is tough because I looked up to those guys growing up. Some of these guys were my idols, and I respect them so much as players,' Pulisic said. 'Privately, the way they talk to me and clearly want to show support and be your friend and everything, and then they say something slightly different publicly. … Does it hurt me? Am I surprised by it? I don't know. Not really. People are always going to have their opinions.' Pulisic's father Mark responded forcefully to Donovan on social media, telling the former US player to 'grow a pair' while pointing out that Donovan himself once took an extended sabbatical from national team duty. In the CBS interview, Christian Pulisic was not asked about his father's comments, but added that 'I just don't understand why so many people are so big on just wanting to give out these takes when they've been through tough moments themselves. I don't understand the idea of wanting to divide this fanbase against the players, against the team, and bring it a negative light over it in any way. But we tend to do that a lot, and it doesn't make sense to me.' Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion The US has struggled in its summer slate so far, losing 2-1 to Turkey before being battered 4-0 by Switzerland with a roster that reaches fairly deep into the US player pool. These losses follow a poor Nations League performance that involved Pulisic and most of the team's top players, in which the team lost to Canada and Panama en route to a fourth-placed finish. Pulisic said criticism of himself and the players' supposed lack of commitment in these losses was a 'lazy take.' 'We don't step out there and not give 100% it's just not, it's not something that we do,' he said. 'We we all want it so bad.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Christian Pulisic: 'I don't regret' skipping Gold Cup, calls some criticism 'way out of line'
Christian Pulisic, speaking for the first time since opting to skip this summer's Gold Cup, said Thursday that he doesn't regret the decision, and called questions about his commitment to the U.S. men's national team "way out of line." Pulisic, in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo's "Call It What You Want," also revealed that he "did want to be a part of" the USMNT's two pre-Gold Cup friendlies, and asked coaches to be included for those games against Türkiye and Switzerland. "And they said no, they only wanted one roster" for both the friendlies and the Gold Cup, Pulisic said. "I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is." Advertisement As for why he didn't to play in the Gold Cup, a biennial regional tournament, Pulisic said that, "toward the end of the season" with his Italian club AC Milan, "my body just started talking to me, and my mind. And I started to think, 'What is gonna be best for me leading into next year and going into the World Cup?' And was that to play eight more games, and then get no rest at all, go straight into preseason, and grind another season, and go straight into the World Cup? "I had the make the best decision for myself, and also in the long run for my team," Pulisic continued, "even though clearly some people haven't seen it that way." The decision sparked fierce criticism from both fans and former players. Landon Donovan, perhaps the most famous player in program history until Pulisic came along, rekindled the controversy on Sunday while watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal celebrate their UEFA Nations League title. "This is what it means to represent your country," Donovan said on the Fox broadcast. "[Ronaldo's] 40 years old. He's played a long-ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding, hurt himself in the process. And I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off." Those comments triggered a response from Pulisic's dad, Mark, who, in an Instagram post, cited Donovan's late-career break from soccer and told the USMNT legend to "look in the mirror + grow a pair." Christian Pulisic liked the post. Advertisement In Thursday's interview, Pulisic did not name Donovan, but seemed to implicitly address Donovan's comments. "You can talk about my performances, whatever you want," Pulisic said. "But to question my commitment, especially towards the national team, in my opinion, that's way out of line." He later added: "I just don't understand why also so many people are so big on just wanting to give out these takes when they've been through tough moments themselves. I don't understand the idea of wanting to divide this fan base, and bring a negative light over it in any way. But we tend to do that a lot." Pulisic also admitted that, in general, the criticism from former players "is tough. You know, I looked up to those guys growing up. Some of these guys were my idols. I respect them so much as players." He said that, privately, some of the former players talk to him "and clearly want to show support, and be your friend and everything. And then they say something slightly different publicly." This story will be updated.
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Christian Pulisic has his say as USMNT past, present debate his summer decision
After weeks of discourse about Christian Pulisic's decision not to play for the U.S. men's national team in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup, the Milan winger finally addressed his absence. On Thursday morning, Pulisic appeared on CBS's Call It What You Want podcast, a show hosted by ex-USMNT players Tony Meola, Jimmy Conrad and Charlie Davies. Advertisement 'It sucks for me to miss out with the team,' Pulisic said. 'I want to be a part of the team always. But to be honest, towards the second half and the end of the season, my body just started talking to me, and my mind. I started to think, you know, what's going to be best for me leading into next year and going into the World Cup. Is that to play eight more games, get no rest at all, go straight into preseason and then grind another year, and go straight into the World Cup? That's not what I felt was best for my body.' Throughout a lengthy interview, Pulisic repeatedly backed his decision as being best for his body and mind. He drew a direct link to his fitness and his ability to perform at his best, and that this rest would ultimately benefit him during a World Cup on home soil. He also revealed that he asked to be part of the team during its recent friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, which the USMNT lost 2-1 and 4-0, respectively, but was told that Mauricio Pochettino and his staff only wanted one roster for the summer. 'The only point I would make with that is that I did want to be part of at least the two friendlies,' Pulisic said. 'I did speak with the coaches, and I asked and I wanted to be part of the team in whatever capacity I could. They said no; they said they only wanted one roster, and that's a coach's decision. I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is. I wanted to be a part of that, but that's just the way things went. I had to make the best decision for myself, and also, in the long run, my team — although, clearly, some people haven't seen it that way.' "I did want to be a part of at least the two friendlies, but they said no… I had to make the best decision for myself and, in the long run, for my team." Christian Pulisic opens up on his decision to sit out the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup 🇺🇸 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) June 12, 2025 Stated as a wry disclaimer, it was the first of a few references to the backlash which followed his decision to skip the Gold Cup. A chorus of detractors have since questioned his loyalty to the USMNT, perhaps most vocally from program legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, who now co-host a podcast together. Advertisement In an episode released on May 28, Donovan compared Pulisic's decision to when he took a lengthy sabbatical in 2013. Infamously, Donovan's 'break' was among the top reasons why Jurgen Klinsmann ultimately omitted the program's joint-record goalscorer from his 2014 World Cup squad. However, Donovan said he felt Pulisic's decision lacked the same 'this is why' component that he himself had presented over a decade ago. Donovan also alluded to Pulisic's decision when appearing on FOX's UEFA Nations League final studio show and lauding 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo for continuing to turn out for his national side. When asked directly about Donovan, Howard and outside noise from former U.S. players, Pulisic continued to back his decision. 'To question my commitment, especially towards the national team, in my opinion that's way out of line.' Christian Pulisic responds to the criticism he has received from former players including #USMNT legend Landon Donovan 🗣️ — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) June 12, 2025 'I've always said you guys would probably be surprised with how little (discourse) actually gets to me,' Pulisic said. 'I try to stay away from it as much as I can. When it comes to those guys, I don't know… It is tough, because I looked up to those guys growing up. Some of those guys were my idols, and I respect them so much as players. It's tough, especially when — some of them, as well, privately, the way they talk to me and clearly want to show support and be your friend and everything. And then it goes, and they say something slightly different publicly. That's fine. It doesn't hurt me. 'Am I surprised by it? I don't know, not really. People are always going to have their opinions, but in the end, I'm focused on how can I better myself? What am I going to do for bettering myself and, ultimately, the best thing for the team. That's what I do. Of all things: you can talk about my performances, whatever you want, but to question my commitment, especially towards the national team? In my opinion, that's way out of line. But you know how it is: people forget really quickly. Once I'm back with the national team — I hope — once I'm back with the national team and can play again, score a goal and win a game, people will forget all about this quickly.' This story will be updated.
