Pulisic injured: Leaves due to injury in US victory against Australia

Pulisic, out due to injury in match against Australia

The United States national team coach, Mauricio Pochettino, confirmed that AC Milan player Christian Pulisic suffered a hamstring injury during the match against Australia, which forced his substitution in the 28th minute. Pulisic, after receiving hard tackles, felt discomfort and Pochettino decided to take him off the field.

Pulisic feels something in his hamstring. He will fly to Italy tomorrow. We will re-evaluate tonight. We can’t say anything more.

Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino suggested that the change in climate between Austin and Denver may have influenced Pulisic’s injury.

I think it’s a significant risk. I don’t want to say it’s because of Christian, but I think it was hard for the player.

Mauricio Pochettino

The United States achieved victory despite the absence of Pulisic, with outstanding performances by Haji Wright and Cristian Roldan. Wright scored two goals, both assisted by Roldan, including the decisive goal after a quick free kick that left him one-on-one with Australian defender Cameron Burgess. Wright evaded Burgess and scored a great goal. Pochettino praised Wright and his ability to seize the opportunity.

I think it’s important to say: ‘I am here and I want to play. I want to be part of the team’.

Mauricio Pochettino

Wright, who leads the English Championship with eight goals for Coventry City, attributes his good form to the absence of injuries.

The last few seasons I’ve been battling small injuries and it’s been difficult to play without pain, and this is the first season in a few years where I’m playing completely pain-free. So it feels good to be able to… show what I can do.

Haji Wright

Pochettino also praised Roldan, who is now in the fight for a place in the team.

He is what we need. We need a player with confidence, with some belief, with a bit of romanticism, with a bit of competitiveness. And maybe Cristian Roldan is the example of, if you want to build your perfect player, he has a bit of everything.

Mauricio Pochettino

Australian defender Jason Geria, who received a yellow card for a foul against Pulisic, acknowledged the intensity of the match, but denied that his team was targeting the American player.

I heard he’s injured, so I hope he’s okay. We weren’t specifically physical with him. I think in general, as a team, as a country, we’re a physical team, and we’re ready to fight no matter the opponent. I wasn’t specifically going to hit Pulisic or anything like that. I think across the field there were physical battles everywhere.

Jason Geria

The victory marked the first time in the Pochettino era that the United States came back after conceding the first goal, scored by Jordan Bos in the 19th minute. The American team had already managed to tie against Ecuador the previous Saturday.

It’s not a coincidence. The good and the not so good, and it’s not a coincidence to have this ability, to believe, to say: ‘We need to trust ourselves, that which is in our mind, in our brain, in our heart, is in our blood’. I think this kind of thing is sometimes difficult to explain how that magic happens, but this is about daily work. Every time we work together is to sow the seed and start to be very consistent in our decision in the way we communicate and in how the message reached the team, the staff, everyone.

Mauricio Pochettino