USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter has confirmed that star midfielder Christian Pulisic will not play in this month’s decisive CONCACAF Nations League matches.
The Yanks need to beat Canada at home on Friday and Cuba in the Cayman Islands four days later to qualify for the first CNL semifinals in the summer.
[ MORE: How USMNT can beat Canada sans Pulisic, Bradley ]
Pulisic injured his hip in Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace shortly before scoring and subbing out of the contest.
In the USMNT’s initial release, Pulisic’s status was in question. It seems someone very quickly answered that question, presumably Chelsea.
“These decisions are always difficult because this group and the coaching staff want nothing more than to have Christian here, but it was a risk we weren’t willing to take at this time,” Berhalter said.
Not being snarky at all to Berhalter, because this is how he has to speak from the USMNT podium, but it feels unlikely this was an American call (“We just got that information”). Chelsea visits Man City and Valencia in a five-day span after the international break.
The Yanks’ fortunes are much better with him than without him, and the Berhalter era needs some W’s.
"Christian is officially at this stage ruled out. We just got that information. This was a collaborative decision with the club. looking after the best interest of the player..."
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 11, 2019
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