With Christian Pulisic stuck on ChelseaOn the bench this season, US coach Gregg Berhalter predicts his biggest star will return to the starting line-up of the English club.
“I’m a guy betting on Christian just because I’ve seen it before,” Berhalter said Wednesday after an event promoting the launch of Nike’s World Cup jersey on September 15.
“He wasn’t trusted the way he wanted to, and he got on the pitch and proved everyone wrong and he ended the game. I mean that’s what he’s doing. So, I tend to believe that’s going to happen. And I think his mind is on a good point and I think he’s going to fight for it because that’s his type.”
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The 23-year-old midfielder, in his fourth season with Chelsea, was used as a second-half substitute by manager Thomas Tuchel in each of the team’s first five games, limited to seven to 27 minutes. He didn’t score.
Less than three months before Berhalter selects his 26-man squad for the World Cup opening game against the Americans Wales on September 21, several players in his pool of potential players 38 to 40 are on the move.
These include Sergino DestWho Sources told ESPN on Wednesday it was set to join AC Milan on loanand Ricardo Pepipersons moved to Groningen in the Netherlands on loan.
Goalkeepers are also changing. Zack Steffenloan from City of Manchester second place Middlesbroughmissed the last two games because of a knee injury. Matt Turnerin his first season at Arsenalseem to only play in the League Cup and perhaps the Europa League. Ethan Horvath starting at the second floor The town of Luton and Sean Johnson in New York City FC.
“That’s what we think about,” Berhalter said. “I think there’s still time and we’ll have to see.”
Two prep matches still for the Americans, against Japan on September 23 in Düsseldorf, Germany and vs. Saudi Arabia four days later in Murcia, Spain.
“It’s a tough place because on the one hand, I really want the boys to play every week,” Berhalter said. “But that’s not always possible and the player also has his own career to think about, not just the national team in the World Cup.”
As the announcement of Berhalter’s November 9 World Cup roster approaches, the forward is his most uncertain position. He will probably choose two to four.
Jordan Pefok26 years old, has 3 goals in his first 5 games for Union Berlin, scored 2 goals in the Bundesliga. Josh SargentThe 22-year-old has four goals in his first seven games for second-place Norwich. Haji Wright24 years old, has 5 goals in 4 games this season for Antalyaspor of Turkey. Brandon Vazquez23 years old, second in Major League Soccer with 16 goals this season and Dallas ’21 years old Jesus Ferreira there are 15.
“You hope that they keep scoring and you hope that they make it difficult for us as a staff member,” Berhalter said. “You will definitely choose from those who are scoring rather than those who are not. And with Ricardo Pepi coming to Groningen, hopefully he will also get into the profession and then make it challenging.”
Berhalter said he has yet to decide whether his September roster will include Vazquez, who has not yet played for the national team.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I think it actually makes it harder – don’t make it impossible, though,” he said. “If you have four boys who are involved and are scoring and he’s the fifth that hasn’t been involved and is scoring, then it’s even more difficult.”
After opening with Wales, the United States played England in a Black Friday match on November 25 and a team match nearly four days later against Iran. The quality of the squad for the World Cup may differ from that in the qualifying round.
“There can be an example of people wanting to look in this camp, and we know enough about the other players that we don’t need to see them,” he said. “There could be an argument that the physicality we are looking for is against El Salvador won’t be of much help to us against England. “
Among the central defenders, the group includes Walker Zimmerman, Chris Richards, Aaron Long, James Sands, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Erik Palmer-Brown, Matt Miazga and Tim Ream. Berhalter praised Fulham’s 34-year-old Ream, who was eliminated in the final 11 qualifying rounds.
“Great respect for Tim and what he’s doing,” Berhalter said.
Berhalter plans to attend on Saturday Celtic–Rangers a Glasgow derby featuring Sands, Carter-Vickers and Malik TillmanValencia’s match on Sunday against Yunus Musah and Boavista’s match on Monday against Reggie Cannon against Paços Ferreira.
