By Juan Carlos Maygua
The USMNT is ready to face off against Jamaica and Northern Ireland in preparation for the upcoming summer competitions. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter spoke to the media and gave his impressions on the squad that will be available for the first game.
He is confident that the group of players available will do everything in their power to perform at the highest level. I had the chance to ask him if there was a possibility that these next two games determine the squad for the Gold Cup and the World Cup Qualifiers. “I don’t see it like that, It’s unlikely that the Gold Cup squad will be made up of the European players. We can’t ask them after playing all year, to come to play the Nations League and then go to the Gold Cup. The group will be a mix, hopefully, we get to know the pool of 40 to 35 players and get work done before the World Cup Qualifiers”.
The Olympic games are a major objective for the federation. Given the age of both Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, they can both easily be included in the Olympic roster if the objective is met. Berhalter pointed out that he would like nothing more than to see the strongest squad in the Olympics, but that the final decision will depend on what the clubs allow players to do. As far as how each player arrives in the camp Berhalter pointed out that “Ideally you want every player to come in top form, it’s not always possible and these are things we take into consideration”. “We also want to create the type of environment that players enjoy coming into, sometimes this could be a kickstart for the player”. This of course in regards to the situation regarding Pulicic’s lack of playing time at Chelsea F.C.
The players perspective
Christian Pulisic is without a doubt the face of the USMNT, not only for the upcoming World Cup but for the 2026 edition that will be held in this region. “We have a group of young leaders,we all must lead in our ways. I take pride in holding the captaincy, I’m going to do everything I can to lead the team in the right way”. Although, he feels confident about his fitness level despite concerns of not being fit coming into this camp and his situation at the club level. “It hasn’t been easy because I have always been a guy that likes to play. I’m on a good path, I love to take on challenges, especially to prove myself. Regardless of what’s happening at club level, I’m happy to be in camp and get some minutes”. My colleague Alonso Contreras emphasized the arrival of new talent like Musah and McKenney as key additions to what Pulisic represents for the future. Pulisic highlighted the importance of having talent in top competitions like the Champions League. “It’s something that makes me proud, excited to see what we can accomplish as a group moving forward”.
Sergino Dest comes into camp after scoring two goals for F.C. Barcelona, becoming the first American player to score a double in the Spanish league. The milestone was something Dest was happy about, both in his personal and professional aspects. His last appearance with the national team was before his move to Barcelona, so he highlighted some of the changes that have taken place since then. “I move forward a bit more now, I have somebody behind me so that allows me to take more risks. He also addressed his positioning in the National team and his preference for the left-back role. Although he pointed out that he likes to play his game style without focusing on the outside world. In regards to the time management given the calendar ahead, the key for Serginho is to do activities that are not related to football. That way you can relax and regain energy for what could come up ahead.
The National team faces a new and improved Jamaican squad composed of Premier league players. A challenge that will be interesting given Josh Sargent’s improvement in front of goal recently. Having Claudio Pizarro as a mentor could help him secure the starting role in the attacking position. Hopefully, it is also an opportunity to see Yunnus Musah get his first few minutes with the USMNT.