There was a time when bad performances or bad results for the US Men’s National Team would barely cause a ripple outside the locker room. There was no huge fallout in the media and no outrage among supporters. I remember it well - I was in the team.
Compare that to the reaction to Tuesday’s loss against Mexico: 'F***ing disgraceful. Disaster. Embarrassing. Unacceptable’. Sure, it was the USA’s first setback under Mauricio Pochettino. But, to me, it’s a good sign. Critics are healthy. I would much rather see an avalanche of anger than no reaction at all.
US fans have put up with the debacle of Copa America and then the firing of Gregg Berhalter. No wonder they were hungry for a new start and a big performance. No wonder they felt let down when it didn’t come. Especially against Mexico. Especially when their star player was nowhere to be seen.
Christian Pulisic left the squad to rejoin AC Milan and limit his workload. Fans have every right to be frustrated at such a crucial time.
Pulisic is our biggest player, our best player - and this was no normal USMNT camp. It marked the start of Pochettino’s reign and the countdown to the 2026 World Cup.
Christian Pulisic returned to AC Milan ahead of the United States' loss to rivals Mexico
Without his star player, Mauricio Pochettino suffered his first defeat as manager of the USMNT
DailyMail.com columnist Tim Howard
Christian is a good leader of this group. No one can question his commitment to the USMNT and no one can deny that he needs to look after his body.
But even if he is not playing, he should still be there - to create the culture and set an example. I have been a senior player and a big personality in the locker room. I demanded a lot of people and what I found? The moments to show your gravitas tend to come off the pitch.
There were times when I was injured or on the bench. I had 100-odd caps by then but I would carry the water. Or I’d pick the kits up off the locker room floor, while players making their second or third appearance were in the shower.
They were small gestures that carried an important message: when we’re in deep and I’m demanding something of you, it’s nothing I would not do myself.
That’s what makes a good leader. That’s when you build trust and culture. Not by leaving camp. But by supporting the team with words and actions.
The problem? Anybody who has been an international player knows the fight between club and country is real. This is not a Pulisic problem or an AC Milan problem. Every big player and every big team deals with it. It’s a constant tug of war.
In his second game in charge, the US was beaten 2-0 by bitter rivals Mexico in Guadalajara
Pochettino and his USMNT players came in for a barrage of criticism following the defeat
But at some point Pochettino, Pulisic and the USA have to flex their muscles and tell Milan: This is how it’s going to go down. We need Christian - to play or just to be around.
These are normal conversations that happen between clubs and countries all the time. It's always a massive struggle. It’s a push and pull relationship that relies on building trust and earning credit in the bank.
In a perfect world, a national team’s technical director would be in very close contact with clubs all around the world. It’s not about simply making demands. It’s about working together, bringing them over and showing them your setup.
You don’t want clubs flying blind, trying to work out who is best to email. You have to build bridges and good grace. Only then will teams allow players to be seen by international doctors. Only then can you get your way when push comes to shove.
The coach failed to hide his disappointment after being left without his standout player
As Pochettino said last week: '(We need) 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 manager failed to hide his disappointment after travelling to Guadalajara without several important players - including Pulisic. 'We arrived a little bit short here,’ Pochettino said.
It was far from ideal - given he has so few games before the 2026 World Cup. And given it happened against Mexico.
Many fans don’t want to see experiments or rotation against our rivals. I am normally one of them - this is a game to win. At some point, though, Pochettino has to look at different players.
So let’s not panic. Fans should still be optimistic. Pochettino is a brilliant manager working with a good group. But one that can’t afford for it’s best player to be halfway around the world.