Players cannot choose which games they will be available, said coach Mauricio Pochettino of the United States that after attacker Christian Pulisic had skipped the Concacaf Gold Cup but offered to play in a few friendly matches.
Pulisic, who played 50 games for AC Milan in the recently closed season, said he would miss the Gold Cup to rest and restore, with former American Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas among those who criticized the decision.
In an interview with the CBS Sports Podcast on Thursday, Pulisic said he had asked to play in friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland, but was not involved in those matches because Pochettino wanted a consistent team in the Gold Cup.
The AC Milan wing player said he understood the decision of the head coach, while adding that those who interrogate his dedication to the national team were “out of line”.
When asked about Pulisic's comments, Pochettino said reporters on Saturday: “Players do not have to understand or not understand. Players should listen and stay with our plan. They cannot dictate the plan.
“Because if not, ok, we turn – we exchange the position (coach and player), no? That is clear. The most important thing is that we explain why we decided not to include (him) in the two friendly games.
“And if you have some problems, no, that's not my problem to understand … I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin.”
The US suffered defeats in both friendly matches and lost 2-1 against Turkey and 4-0 at home against Switzerland.
They will try to make a loss of four games when they start their Gold Cup campaign with a match against Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose, California later on Sunday.