Mauricio Pochettino has urged for calm, but the sight of Christian Pulisic sitting out the first half of the USA's friendly against Australia has set...
Mauricio Pochettino has urged for calm, but the sight of Christian Pulisic sitting out the first half of the USA's friendly against Australia has set tongues wagging. The Argentine manager, never one for theatrical gestures, insisted that 'the feelings are good' after the decision to leave his talisman on the bench. But is this the kind of tactical flexibility we should applaud, or a needless gamble with the team's rhythmLet's not kid ourselves. Pulisic is the heartbeat of this American side, the man who turns a decent attacking move into a moment of clinical finishing. Leaving him out of the starting eleven for a test against the Socceroos, a side that thrives on transitional play and a stubborn low block, feels like a statement. Pochettino, ever the pragmatist, is likely managing minutes and testing the depth of his squad. But for a friendly that carries weight in the build up to major tournaments, it risks unsettling the very chemistry he's trying to build.The manager's insistence that all is rosy in the camp will be met with a raised eyebrow from the travelling support. You can't mute the noise around a player of Pulisic's stature, especially when the starting eleven lacks that cutting edge in the final third. It's a classic case of 'squeaky bum time' for the coaching staff; they need to prove that the system works without their main man, or risk the accusation that they bottled it by not trusting the star.Of course, Pochettino has earned the right to be trusted. His track record for developing talent and getting the best out of individuals is ironclad. He knows the difference between a meaningless friendly and a competitive dogfight. Yet, football fans are a suspicious bunch. We remember the managers who promised 'good feelings' only to see the team park the bus when it mattered. The real test won't be against Australia; it will be when the competitive fixtures come knocking, and Pulisic is either rested or reinvigorated.For now, GoalZaza understands that the American camp is trying to keep things tight. No one is panicking, but the first question in every press conference will linger like a bad tackle: is the manager managing the player, or is there something deeper brewing The only way to settle this is on the pitch, with a performance that proves the collective is greater than the individual. Until then, the good feelings remain fragile.
