Why Christian Pulisic's breakout could turn around USMNT's World Cup hopes
Christian Polanco of The Cooligans is joined by Khendrick Beausoleil to react to Sunday’s 3-2 win over Senegal in a World Cup warmup match and why the American star's attitude on the pitch could play a big part in the team's success this summer. Check out the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
Pulisic is m- much more expressive- Okay.
Fair when the game is not going well for him.
Oh, I see what you're saying.
I see what you're saying.
And it's just, like, you, y- but now people- Yeah are looking at you.
It's just, it's just one of those things that I think it affects your teammate psychologically.
Yeah.
Like, "Oh, Christian's having a bad game."
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And it's just like- The energy changes you think about it, right?
Yeah.
But as opposed, but if he's playing well, then I think everybody else plays well.
Everybody's playing well.
So that's why I think he- Okay.
I get it I think he has that impact on the rest of the team.
Yeah.
And I, he should take advantage of that.
Yeah.
Be that, be that leader.
Be the, you know.
And, and that's why I think, like, you know, people get mad at players like, oh, you know, MLS guys, or Tim Ream or, or Christian Roldan.
But you can see Pochettino appreciates having players like that because they bring a sense of, of, of optimism and joy.
Yeah.
And they're, and for them, it's like, you know, they, they, they, they, you know, on the depth chart, you could easily say, like, "Somebody should take that spot."
Yeah.
But it's like they, the reason Tanner Testament's not called in- Yeah or what, it's, i- it can't be because of his ability.
Yeah.
It's, so it has to be some- Some personal- something else.
Yeah like some, intangible- Yeah that, that I think players are, not all the players are taking advantage of.
And that's, that's why I think- So, so do you think Pulisic behaves the way he does because of his, like, status kinda on the team?
Y- like, yeah.
As, as the star of the team.
Yeah, yeah.
Like, be- Do you think that's why he's kinda like, the emotional sort of reaction that you, that you think he gives?
I don't know.
Th- that, that has some, that's more to do with him, like, his own personality.
Yeah.
I don't know.
Like, it's just like, you know, we know, we know who gets the spotlight.
Yeah.
So that comes with a, a different responsibility, right?
Yeah.
The, the post-game conf- a post-match conference with, with J- Jalen Brunson- Yeah is gonna be different than with either OG Anunoby or somebody else.
Yeah.
Like, it's just gonna- It's, yeah, it's just gonna feel different the, the scrutiny's gonna be a little bit different.
Yeah.
So, a- and again, if somebo- if you're sulking on the pitch- Yeah a- and you're that guy and you're that star player- Yeah I don't Like, I mean, even, like, a player like Messi.
Yeah.
which clearly the star player, and he can be he- frustrated, but his frustrate, his frustration is, like, more inspiring for whatever- He's South American.
It He's South American, bro.
It's just, it's passion.
It's the passion.
right.
So- I know what you're saying, though.
I know what you're saying.
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, I, I, I wonder, ca- can, I mean, i- i- I guess I'm sort of answering my own question, but, like, i- is, can Christian Pulisic ch- like, change the, the, the, the perception of him th- o- of, of himself throughout this, like- Yeah World Cup- Yeah just by having a couple good games?
Yeah.
You know?
