United States men's national team star Christian Pulisic has hit back at critics of newly rehired U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter.
"I just have to give credit where credit's due and it does frustrate me a little bit, and just seeing just all the negative press towards him that people tell me about, and I can't fully understand it exactly," Pulisic told ESPN's Herculez Gomez in an interview for Futbol Americas.
The United States Soccer Federation announced last week that Berhalter, who coached the team from late 2018 through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, would return as coach. His contract expired Dec. 31 amid an outside investigation into a domestic violence altercation between him and his now-wife in 1991. When the investigation concluded in March, it cleared Berhalter to again be considered for the job.
Pulisic never specifically lobbied for Berhalter to return publicly but lauded the job he did whenever asked about it during the time in which Berhalter was out of contract.
New U.S. sporting director Matt Crocker said players were consulted during the search process; however, Pulisic said he did not find out Berhalter had been hired until he was asked about it last week immediately after the team's convincing 3-0 victory against Mexico in the Nations League semifinals.
Asked if he thinks Berhalter can take the team to the next level, Pulisic said, "I absolutely think he can do it, but I think just the players in this group are so hungry no matter who the coach is."
"I just have to give credit where credit's due and it does frustrate me a little bit, and just seeing just all the negative press towards him that people tell me about, and I can't fully understand it exactly," Pulisic told ESPN's Herculez Gomez in an interview for Futbol Americas.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Berhalter's back: How U.S. Soccer's strange coaching search played out
1dKyle Bonagura
Concacaf Gold Cup: Schedule, results, bracket
54mESPN
The United States Soccer Federation announced last week that Berhalter, who coached the team from late 2018 through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, would return as coach. His contract expired Dec. 31 amid an outside investigation into a domestic violence altercation between him and his now-wife in 1991. When the investigation concluded in March, it cleared Berhalter to again be considered for the job.
Pulisic never specifically lobbied for Berhalter to return publicly but lauded the job he did whenever asked about it during the time in which Berhalter was out of contract.
New U.S. sporting director Matt Crocker said players were consulted during the search process; however, Pulisic said he did not find out Berhalter had been hired until he was asked about it last week immediately after the team's convincing 3-0 victory against Mexico in the Nations League semifinals.
Asked if he thinks Berhalter can take the team to the next level, Pulisic said, "I absolutely think he can do it, but I think just the players in this group are so hungry no matter who the coach is."
