Christian Pulisic spent the entire week training alone, a stark contrast to the rest of the US men's national team preparing for Friday's match against Australia in Seattle. Yet his coach remained deliberately vague about whether the star midfielder would actually play.
"He is evolving, he is much better from Friday, we'll see," Mauricio Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference Thursday, offering little beyond that thin reassurance. The head coach indicated a final decision would come after his medical staff met with Pulisic on Thursday night, with any announcement coming Friday.
Pulisic injured his calf during training last week and left halftime of the US victory over Paraguay with an aggravated strain. He has since followed a modified training program, though the specifics of his condition have remained closely guarded.
The Milan playmaker was nowhere near the full squad during the portions of team training open to media at the Irvine, California facility earlier in the week. Monday and Tuesday, he appeared in an auxiliary gym next to the main pitch. By Wednesday, he ventured onto the field with trainers for ball work. When the team traveled to Seattle, Pulisic again trained separately Thursday at the University of Washington complex, briefly spotted in a huddle with a wrap around his left calf before disappearing into a nearby facility with performance staffers.
His teammates have grown increasingly optimistic as the week progressed. Tyler Adams declared on Monday that Pulisic would be fine. By Tuesday, Tim Weah expressed confidence he would be ready, though not without a prayer for full fitness. Weston McKennie said Thursday that Pulisic "really wants to be" available and is doing everything possible to make it happen.
The stakes for Pulisic's availability are substantial. He was instrumental in the Paraguay rout before his injury, and his absence against Australia would force the US into tactical adjustments. Pochettino has options: pushing Gio Reyna forward in form, deploying Brendan Aaronson from Leeds, or restructuring the midfield entirely.
The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET Friday in Seattle. Pochettino acknowledged the emotional weight of uncertainty around any player's availability. "When this type of thing happens it's always painful," he said, crediting Pulisic with "a great mentality" and "a massive effort to be ready."
Author James Rodriguez: "Pochettino's noncommittal tone tells you everything you need to know: Pulisic is touch and go, and the coach isn't tipping his hand until the last possible moment."
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