Defending Gregg Berhalter, Christian Pulisic Calls Out U.S. Soccer World’s Unfair Treatment of Ex-USMNT Boss- “Didn’t Want to Restart”

Call it unfortunate, but it’s sad that the stars just didn’t align for Gregg Berhalter at the USMNT. A Round of 16 exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was followed by his sacking, only for him to be rehired and face another heartbreak during the 2024 Copa América group stages. All this had made him an enemy in the eyes of US Soccer fans who left no stone unturned in criticising the American tactician. However, Christian Pulisic has surprisingly come to Berhalter’s defense, insisting that the team was actually in a ‘really good spot.’

To recall, it was in the aftermath of 2022 that calls for Berhalter’s dismissal began. Despite surviving the group stage with draws against Wales and England and a narrow win over Iran, only to lose in the Round of 16 against the Netherlands, fans deemed the performance unacceptable. However, the sentiment among players was quite the opposite, as they strongly supported the 52-year-old’s return.

“If we are looking from our perspective, we had just put on some really great performances at the World Cup and thought we had really grown as a team,” remarked Pulisic during his recent exclusive chat with GQ magazine. “So it did seem to us, at least from my perspective, and I know a lot of others’ perspective, it was kind of unfair what had been going on.”

Part of Pulisic and Co.’s reluctance to let go of Berhalter was their fear of going back to square one under a new manager. Instead, the American boys were rather keen to fight and fix their mistakes under Gregg. But in the end, it’s not in the hands of the players as the US Soccer Federation had decided not to let Berhalter continue his second tenure.

“It just kind of sucked at the time that that whole thing had to happen, because I think in any other normal world it would have just, it would have just continued. We wanted to keep growing. At the time, we wanted to just pick up where we let—we didn’t want to have to restart anything. We felt like we were in a really good point, really good spot,” admitted Pulisic.

When asked whether Berhalter was treated unfairly when he initially left the job and if things should have played out differently, the AC Milan forward said, “Yeah, that’s more or less—at least that’s how I saw it.”

So it seems that Pulisic was in favor of Berhalter to remain as USMNT coach. But just as they say, not everything works just the way you want it to be. In fact, we have a feeling that Pulisic has even moved on from his former coach as he embraces the new boss in town!

Christian Pulisic aims to make a ‘good impression’ under the new USMNT manager

The atmosphere has to change around the USMNT after Mauricio Pochettino was hired as the new man to lead the Golden Generation. But it’s not just the big name that forces someone like Christian Pulisic to try making an impression on the Argentinian tactician. The AC Milan forward sees it as a much-needed change.

“I think not just because he’s coached at big clubs—I mean, it’s great, obviously—but also just, when there’s a new coach in the building at all, everyone is slightly more in tune and has to impress a little more and say, “You know what? I want to make a good first impression,” [and], “So do I,” insisted Pulisic.

So far it has been around 3 months since Pochettino has been familiar with the American boys. As they further approach the 2026 World Cup, the Stars and Stripes are expected to make the most of their situation in the prestigious tournament.