Donovan Backs Christian Pulisic After Recent Fallout With Pochettino
(CAIRATE, ITALY : Christian Pulisic of AC Milan in action during an AC Milan training session at Milanello sports center in Cairate, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images) )
Donovan Backs Christian Pulisic After Recent Fallout With Pochettino originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Christian Pulisic opted out of the Gold Cup, citing fatigue after the European season with Milan ended. His decision sparked a major backlash from USMNT fans, former players, and legends. Now, following the tournament, Landon Donovan reflected on just how important Pulisic really is for the national team.
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Arguably the best American winger in the world, Christian Pulisic built his career at European giants like Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Milan. He's also been a captain for the USMNT alongside Tyler Adams and veteran Tim Ream. His absence in the Gold Cup opened the door for younger players like Diego Luna, who took over the iconic number 10 shirt.
Donovan was initially critical of Pulisic's choice to sit out, but after the 2-1 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final, he acknowledged the crucial role Pulisic plays for the team.
'The reality is: Christian is the best player on the team. And honestly, it's not even close. Given everything he's done and what he's still capable of, maybe this was just a major misstep—a big hole in the middle of all his efforts. Now, he has to figure out how to move forward and reflect on it. But that's exactly why he was able to make such an impact - maybe not in the first game, but eventually, we all saw it unfold.' - Landon Donovan on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
For the USMNT, Pulisic has played 78 games, scored 32 goals, and assisted 18 times -numbers no other American player comes close to matching. He creates chances coming down the left wing, sometimes drifting inside, and can finish with either foot.
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While Diego Luna stepped up as the team's number 10 and delivered impressive stats, once Pulisic returns, the shirt and position are likely his to reclaim. Mauricio Pochettino could find a way to play both together, but that might sacrifice some bench depth.
What's next for Pulisic and the USMNT?
The USMNT won't play again until September, with friendlies scheduled against South Korea and Japan. Both teams will provide tough tests after the Gold Cup. South Korea could feature stars like Heung-min Son (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (PSG), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), offering Pochettino a solid challenge as he narrows down his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
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Japan, meanwhile, is an even tougher opponent. The two countries have faced off three times recently, with Japan winning twice - including a 2-0 victory in 2022. Japan has steadily grown its roster of players competing at top clubs around the world, raising the bar for the USMNT.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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