Christian Pulisic made it clear what he expects Mauricio Pochettino to change as the boss of the United States Men's National Team (USMNT).
Shortly after the United States drew 1-1 with New Zealand thanks to Ben Waine scoring the equalizer in the 89th minute, Pulisic explained what he hopes Pochettino will accomplish now that he has the keys to the team. In particular, the star midfielder expressed his disappointment with how the team has performed and hoped a new voice can infuse life back into the squad .
"I think, obviously, difficult result for us and it's not a great feeling," Pulisic said after the draw to TNT Sports. "I think moving forward, it's time to turn a page and we really have to pick it up a level. I mean, everyone that's part of this and it feels pretty low right now but I know that there's better times ahead."
Pulisic also added that he hopes Pochettino will bring a much-needed change to how the USMNT conducts itself on and off the pitch, especially with the 2026 World Cup just around the corner. "I think just hopefully a culture that is willing to fight, that is willing to take risks to win," the 25-year-old continued.
"There's a lot of things that need to change and just the mentality and the culture of the group. I think we have the quality but I know, hopefully, that that's the first thing that he's going to want to change."
Pochettino, the former Chelsea boss, will have work cut out for him if he wants to turn the United States into a powerhouse that many fans believe it could be. Led by Pulisic, the United States has arguably one of its most talented core groups but that has not yielded the result many have expected.
However, U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker explained that Pochettino is a "serial winner" with a "deep passion for player development," which ultimately could lead to the type of success fans have been expecting from a squad as talented as this.
"His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad," his statement read . "We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage."
Considering the task ahead of Pochettino, USMNT legend Tim Howard implored the Argentine to be flexible in how he manages the team. In particular, Howard called to mind his experiences under Jurgen Klinsmann when making his plea with Pochettino.
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"I was there before, during and after his reign," Howard said in his Daily Mail column. "I spent 15 years on the national team and I don't remember a time when there was a bigger disconnect between the players and the manager than under Jurgen. He organized a lot of team excursions. He specialized in fluff and philosophical rhetoric.
"But there was zero soccer. We went to Versailles, we went to the 9/11 memorial, we went on boating trips. He made us come into lunch and sing the national anthem. He dictated when we slept and when we woke up. He decided what we wore.
"The lesson for Pochettino to learn from Klinsmann? Understand the American player. Don't make it about yourself. Every culture has different nuances - wherever you coach around the world. So, yes, players have to be pushed out of their comfort zone, but you have to learn what makes people tick."
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