Pulisic injured: Leaves the USA vs Australia match, concern at AC Milan

Pulisic Leaves the Field Due to Injury in the Match Against Australia

The technical director of the United States men’s national team, Mauricio Pochettino, reported that AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to be substituted in the 28th minute of the 2-1 victory over Australia. Pulisic, who had already received hard tackles, was brought down in a promising counterattack in the 26th minute. Faced with this situation, Pochettino made the decision to take Pulisic out of the match.

[Pulisic] feels something in his hamstring. Tomorrow he will fly to Italy. Tonight we will re-evaluate. We can’t say [anything else].

Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino suggested that the change in climate between Austin and Denver during this international window could have influenced Pulisic’s problem. The United States achieved victory despite Pulisic’s absence, with Pochettino praising the contributions of Haji Wright and Cristian Roldan. Wright scored goals in both halves, both assisted by Roldan, including the winning goal that came after a quick free kick that put Wright in a one-on-one situation with Australian defender Cameron Burgess. Wright evaded Burgess and then placed his shot around Australian goalkeeper Matthew Ryan. It was a case where Wright took his chance after Pochettino included him in the lineup instead of Folarin Balogun.

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 has shown a great performance, as he leads the English Championship with eight goals for Coventry City. He attributes his good form to his health.

The last seasons of my career I have been fighting against small injuries and it has been difficult to play without pain, and this is the first season in a few years in which I play completely without pain. So I feel good to be able to… show what I can do.

Haji Wright

Pochettino praised Roldan, who two months ago seemed unlikely to be part of the team. Now he is in full competition for a place on the World Cup roster.

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 perhaps Christian Roldan is the example that, if you want to build your perfect player, he has a bit of everything. He still doesn’t play in a position where he might not be a forward who should score goals or isn’t the central defender, but he is a great figure that that balance on and off the field is what we find.

Mauricio Pochettino

Australian defender Jason Geria, who received a yellow card for a foul against Pulisic, acknowledged the physical intensity of the friendly, but denied that they were focusing on 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 up for the fight no matter the opponent. I didn’t specifically go out to hit Pulisic or anything like that. I think across the field there were pretty physical battles everywhere.

Jason Geria

The victory marked the first time in the Pochettino era that the United States prevailed after conceding the first goal, which in this case occurred when Jordan Bos scored in the 19th minute. The comeback came after another comeback last Saturday, when the United States tied 1-1 against Ecuador.

It’s not a coincidence to have this ability, to believe, to say: ‘We need to trust ourselves that it’s in our mind, in our brain, in our heart, it’s in our blood’.

Mauricio Pochettino