USMNT's Pulisic says team given reset by Pochettino arrival - ESPN

AC Milan star Christian Pulisic praised a «reset» for the United States in a new era under recently hired manager Mauricio Pochettino.

«It's been a good kind of reset for everyone, and I think it's brought an environment where everyone is a bit on their toes and especially in training sessions,» Pulisic, 26, said ahead of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series vs. Jamaica on Nov. 14 and 18.

«I think everyone is that much more focused. You obviously want to make a good first impression, you want to impress these coaches. They've obviously coached some of the best players in the world.»

The hiring of Pochettino — who has coached at top clubs such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur — marked an ambitious step forward for the USMNT after failing to impress last summer with a Copa América group stage exit under former manager Gregg Berhalter.

Along with the backdrop of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, a new bar has been set for the USMNT's up-and-coming roster, although Pulisic noted Wednesday that the team is currently focused on more immediate goals.

«It's easy to look ahead. I think the main objective right now is to beat Jamaica. That's truly the only thing on our minds.… We have to take this step by step,» Pulisic said when asked about pre-World Cup objectives for the USMNT, which has won once and lost once in two games under Pochettino.

«If we can do that, we can obviously build on that, and then it's just continuing to grow as a team.»

The USMNT's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series will begin with an away trip to Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday before the Americans host the second leg at St. Louis' Energizer Park four days later. The winners will earn a spot to next