Pochettino Warns Omitted U.S. Stars: 'No one has a place for sure'

Any notion that there might be some lingering animosity between U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic and coach Mauricio Pochettino was quashed by the Argentine manager.

"There’s nothing to talk [about]," Pochettino said Tuesday. "I think it is behind us, all that happened in summer. And I think now we need to look forward."

To recap: Citing fatigue after two grueling European seasons, Pulisic asked Pochettino if he could play in two pre-Gold Cup tuneups in early June but take the continental championship off. Pochettino said no, citing his preference to have one group all summer. Then, in a June 12 interview with CBS, Pulisic said he "didn’t understand" that decision. On June 14, Pochettino responded: "I don’t need for him to understand our decision. … Players need to listen and to stick with our plan. They cannot dictate our plan."

Pulisic headlined the 22-player roster that Pochettino dropped Tuesday ahead of next week’s friendlies against Korea Republic in New Jersey and another exhibition with Japan Sept. 9 in Columbus, Ohio. An additional player will be added in the coming days.

Speaking with reporters after Tuesday's roster announcement, Pochettino confirmed that he hasn’t spoken to Pulisic since. But he also said there are no unresolved issues between the coach and the program’s most decorated attacking player.

"The plan for Christian now is to call [him in] and to see him in this camp, and of course hope that he arrives in good condition," Pochettino said. "He had a good preseason with Milan, with his team, and is ready to compete. That is the most important thing."

Mauricio Pochettino and Christian Pulisic will be reunited ahead of the USMNT's upcoming matches. (Photo by Logan Riely/USSF/Getty Images