Christian Pulisic has already shown that Mauricio Pochettino is valuable

AUSTIN, Texas – Christian Pulisic has already made a good impression on his new boss.

Pulisic is “one of the best offensive players in the world,” new US men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday. That’s not exactly a shocking revelation considering Pulisic’s season at AC Milan.

He has scored six goals in nine games and his five in Serie A are tied for the third-most in the league. He also has two assists, meaning he has been involved in half of AC Milan’s goals this season.

But knowing he has a player of Pulisic’s caliber will make Pochettino’s task a little easier.

Pochettino is the most famous coach the USMNT has ever had. He is a fixture in European club football, leading Tottenham to the Champions League final and coaching Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain.

But this is his first time coaching a national team, and the next World Cup is less than two years away – a tournament the United States happens to co-host with Canada and Mexico. Given that the future of American soccer depends on how the USMNT performs in 2026, it’s no small feat that Pochettino already knows who his team’s cornerstone is as he begins his tenure.

“A great player. “A fantastic player,” Pochettino said of Pulisic. “A player who will help us now and in the future to get the team to the position we want.”

The USMNT plays Pochettino’s first game against Panama on Saturday night, followed by another friendly on Tuesday in Mexico against El Tri.

The USMNT has long relied on Pulisic, who has seemingly been around forever despite only turning 26 last month. He is without question the most impressive player the United States has ever produced. His list of firsts – first American to play in a Champions League final, first American to score in a Champions League semifinal, youngest player to score for the US men, etc. etc. – is as long as his list of goals scored.

But the winning streak he is on now is something players can only dream of. In his last 11 appearances for club and country, dating back to August, he has scored or assisted in all but three.

“It’s hard to explain,” Pulisic said. “I think there are moments in your career where it feels like everything you touch goes in. And there are times when it feels like you’re trying everything and the ball just won’t go in. As an attacking player, we’ve all been through it. So I just try to live in that moment when things seem to be going well and just keep going.

“It is the result of all the work I have done throughout my life,” Pulisic added. “So it shouldn’t be a surprise. I know I have that ability and I guess I just go for it.”

Despite his success, Pulisic has always been a low-key superstar. While he appears to be becoming more comfortable with the commercial side of his job heading into 2026 – he’s appearing in more commercials and has revealed a bit more of his personal life on social media – it will never be a role he enjoys.

“I still have problems with this stuff,” he said. “I think it’s important for me to get out of my comfort zone a little bit.”

The bigger challenge will be managing Pulisic’s workload, something Pochettino is excellent at.

There have been tensions between club and country for a long time. Players want to play for their country, and success with their national team can raise a player’s profile. But it is the clubs that pay the players’ salaries and with whom they spend most of their time. If a player loses fitness or gets injured while on international duty, God forbid it is the club that suffers.

As a long-time club coach and now national team manager, Pochettino is aware of the balance that needs to be found.

Pulisic arrived at USMNT camp this week after playing three games for AC Milan in 10 days. On their return, Milan have four games to play in ten days, including a Champions League game. Add in 12-hour-plus travel days of comings and goings, and it’s no surprise that Pulisic was, as Pochettino described it, “a bit tired” when he arrived at camp.

“Sometimes we have to protect him,” said Pochettino. “…We won’t take any risks with our players.”

With each of them. But especially not someone who is as important to the USMNT and Pochettino’s job as Pulisic.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armor on social media @nrarmour.

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