Mauricio Pochettino made it clear how he plans to utilize star Christian Pulisic as the new United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) boss reshapes the side in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

Taking over for Gregg Berhalter, Pochettino was tabbed with turning around a program with much promise but failed to capitalize on the talent-laden squad. Because of his experience at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) hopes to see Pochettino turn the situation around for the United States.

And Pochettino’s first order of business is making sure Pulisic is in the best position to succeed under his watch. Speaking to reporters Friday as the USMNT prepares for its first international matches against Panama and Mexico with him at the helm, Pochettino explained what he expects to happen.

“I think he’s a fantastic player, one of the best offensive players in the world,” Pochettino claimed, per ESPN. “I think that we are a little bit worried that sometimes we need to protect [Pulisic].

“We see because he arrived a little bit tired, but that is a thing that I told him before is to build a very good relationship with the club and try to help. And when we really need him, he needs to be in form, happy, strong and the quality is there because he has an enormous talent.”

Pochettino also added that he and his staff will need to amend how they coach because they want each player to be in the best position to succeed. Moreover, the Argentine hopes to build a relationship with the players as that will translate on the pitch, in its own way.

Christian Pulisic of the United States shoots the ball during USMNT Training at St. David's Performance Center on October 10, 2024 in Austin, Texas

Christian Pulisic is tabbed to be the USMNT’s star under Mauricio Pochettino ( 

Image:

Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

“You need to adapt yourself, your ideas, your philosophy, because we are coaching the player, we are not coaching ourself,” he added. “We need to be a coaching staff that we coach the team. We coach the player because if not, we start to coach ourself and then always blame the player.

“We don’t want to blame the player. We want to provide all the tools for them to perform, depending on the characteristics of the team in the best way.” Pulisic, the star attacker, is enthused with the prospect of playing for Pochettino.

“It’s great for us,” Pulisic said on CBS. “To have someone as experienced as him coming in. We have the talent and now it’s time to hopefully have a coach who’s going to take us to the next level.”

Pulisic’s praise comes after the star explained which direction the team needed to go after the USMNT drew 1-1 with New Zealand in September. Particularly, the 26-year-old believed the team needed a culture reset after years of mediocrity.

“I think just hopefully a culture that is willing to fight, that is willing to take risks to win,” Pulisic told TNT Sports at the time.

“There’s a lot of things that need to change and just the mentality and the culture of the group. I think we have the quality but I know, hopefully, that that’s the first thing that he’s going to want to change.”