USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino named Christian Pulisic to September\'s roster for friendlies against South Korea and Japan, marking the winger\'s first call-up since their public dispute over Gold Cup participation ended their communication in May.
Pochettino confirmed Tuesday he \"didn\'t talk with\" Pulisic this summer but declared their June back-and-forth \"behind us.\" The manager said the focus shifts to moving forward with established plans for every player.
\"We need to look forward. We have a plan for every single player, and the plan for Christian now is to call and to see him in this camp,\" Pochettino said via Zoom.
Pulisic skipped the summer\'s Concacaf Gold Cup after what U.S. Soccer called a \"collective decision\" following \"thoughtful discussions.\" The AC Milan winger publicly defended himself against commitment questions, revealing he wanted to participate in pre-Gold Cup friendlies but was denied.
Notable absences include midfielder Weston McKennie, whose delayed offseason and uncertain Juventus status influenced Pochettino\'s decision. McKennie entered Juventus\' season opener against Parma in the 89th minute after a truncated preseason due to Club World Cup participation.
\"We already know Weston. It\'s not necessary to call him to know,\" Pochettino said. \"We wanted to give him the possibility to be more settled in his club, and the possibility to be in his best form.\"
Pochettino also omitted Johnny Cardoso, citing the midfielder\'s recent transfer to Atletico Madrid from Real Betis as requiring adaptation time. The manager emphasized that \"no one has their place sure\" and \"everyone needs to fight.\"
The September camp represents Pochettino\'s effort to balance player management with competitive preparation. He hinted that McKennie and other established players would likely return for October\'s roster, calling September \"the last camp that we are going to bring some new faces.\"