Five Things From the Week: June 9-15
Christian Pulisic spoke, Spurs hired a new manager and Manchester City unveiled their new signings ahead of the Club World Cup. Five Things From the Week covers all that and more.
1. The USMNT has no choice but to deliver next summer
Confidence in the U.S. men's national team has not been this low since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The performances on the field have not been good enough. Consistent problems have not been addressed. Key players chose to take the summer off. The highest-profile manager in team history is currently in a public dispute with his best player that is only hurting both of them. And Mauricio Pochettino dedicated this was the right time to tell Fox Sports’ Tom Rinaldi that his expectation is to win the 2026 World Cup.
The message from everyone – players, coaches, the federation – is that there is nothing to be concerned about. It doesn't matter that the U.S. just lost four games in a row. It doesn't matter that the team's core will not play another competitive game together before the World Cup. It doesn't matter that there is tension – to put it mildly – between the star player and coach. If it did, people would not be behaving the way they are. It is inviting pressure and expectations that don't need to be there. The only way to restore faith in this team is for it to go on a run next summer.
2. Christian Pulisic needed to explain himself, not defend himself
Christian Pulisic’s appearance on the “Call It What You Want” podcast Thursday centered around why he needed a break this summer and the criticism surrounding the U.S. men’s national team. Pulisic said he wanted to come in for the pre-Gold Cup friendlies and was told he couldn’t. He emphasized how much he and his teammates care. All of it made sense. None of it actually addressed the main issue.
It is unfair to suggest Pulisic isn’t invested because he asked out of one camp. When that camp is for the last tournament before a World Cup and the team’s starters essentially take it off after two disastrous tournaments in a row, it is fair to wonder if anyone in U.S. Soccer cares about World Cup preparation. That apathy has spread to the fanbase. Two bad friendlies didn’t help either. The federation and its players made a choice not to prioritize the buildup to a home World Cup. That is the root of the frustration, and that is what no one has taken responsibility for or been able to explain.
3. Manchester City have rebuilt themselves
Clubs like Manchester City don't sit idly by when there are clear issues needing to be resolved. In less than six months, they have bought two promising young center backs, a new starting fullback, a new holding midfielder and two attackers that will be major figures moving forward. They said goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne and acquired Tijjani Reijnders as his replacement. Jack Grealish is almost certainly on his way out too.
For years, Pep Guardiola has switched out pieces here or there without disturbing his core. Leroy Sané left. Grealish came in. Julián Alvarez came and went. They added Elring Haaland. Rodri replaced Fernandinho. What Guardiola had not done was overhaul his squad. It speaks volumes when the man who famously likes operating with small squads brings in this many prominent new players. A new era is underway in Manchester.
4. Thomas Frank is the exact type of manager Tottenham need
Pochettino came to Spurs with Premier League experience but never having managed a club of their stature. What followed one of the greatest eras in club history. He was replaced by José Mourinho, who’s managed the biggest clubs in the world. Nuno Espírito Santo was next. The process that led to his hiring was so bad and his stint was so short that he barely even counts. Like Mourinho, the Tottenham job was beneath Antonio Conte, and he acted like it.
They went in the complete opposite direction with Ange Postecoglou and got mixed results. Postecoglou’s successor, Thomas Frank, is in the mold of Pochettino. He overachieved at Brentford and has a tremendous track record developing players. Frank will have Postecoglou’s appreciation for the job with much better credentials. After years of searching, Spurs have finally found someone capable of continuing Pochettino’s legacy.
5. Matt Turner made an aggressive and smart move
Matt Turner needs to play. He has made 32 total appearances in his three seasons in Europe. It is hard to justify him starting at the World Cup if that doesn't change. In theory, joining Olympique Lyon means that it will. However, current starter Lucas Perri hadn't left the club just yet. Turner probably isn't going to beat out Perri, and he did lose his starting job at Nottingham Forest two seasons ago. There are ways this move could backfire and ruin his World Cup hopes.
Turner knows all of that, which is why it's hard to see him agreeing to the deal without some kind of assurance from Lyon. The safe thing to do would have been to come back to Major League Soccer. That's where his national team competition is. Going to Lyon instead means he can be the only U.S. keeper starting in Europe's top five leagues. Had he returned to MLS, he may have never gotten the opportunity to play in Europe again.