USMNT Coach Pochettino Affirms No Lasting Issues With Pulisic Before South Korea Match

Mauricio Pochettino has emphasized that the controversy surrounding Christian Pulisic's decision to skip the CONCACAF Gold Cup is behind them as Pulisic prepares to return to the U.S. national team for a friendly against South Korea. Pulisic, who chose to rest after demanding seasons with AC Milan, had offered to play in pre-tournament friendlies but was not selected by Pochettino, who wanted to maintain squad consistency. The decision drew criticism from former U.S. stars Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, provoking strong responses from Pulisic and current teammates like Tim Weah, who accused the critics of insincerity. Pochettino called the situation a misunderstanding that all parties want to move past, focusing instead on building a positive team atmosphere ahead of the World Cup. The upcoming match will also reunite Pochettino with Son Heung-min, a key player from his Tottenham days who recently joined Los Angeles FC. Overall, the coach and players are concentrating on future performances and team unity rather than past disputes.