The absence of Pulisic and Pepi opens the door for other USMNT players

U.S. men's coach Mauricio Pochettino said the door is open for new players to suit up against Mexico at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on Tuesday night after five players left.

Marlon Fossey, Zack Steffen, Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi left the US camp due to injury after a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday, while Christian Pulisic returned to AC Milan to avoid work overload.

Now Pochettino will use the upcoming friendly as his last chance to observe other players before the next international window in November.

“It's really important for the players because I think we all want to have the opportunity to play and show quality,” Pochettino said on Monday. “It's true, it's a problem because I think we can't have five players who can be used with all our quality. Some players who cannot be used in the last game against Panama and now in Mexico.”

“It's a bit sad because these guys who work here want to help and play for the team. But at the same time, if one door is closed and another can be opened, there is an opportunity for another player to play.”

The United States will face El Tri in a friendly on Mexican soil for the first time in 12 years and won their last meeting 1-0 at the Estadio Azteca on August 15, 2012. Staff and players have a chance to learn from the difficult atmosphere that in Guadalajara, especially in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.

“For us it is another game where we have to learn to learn as a group, feel adversity and feel like we are going to compete,” Pochettino said. “And so we can increase our experience and then develop the experience better and better.”

“For me it’s always a huge opportunity to challenge ourselves and the players.”

The Argentine coach expects a difficult game against Javier Aguirre's side and praises the Mexican coach for his competitive edge before warning the US players of a tough evening.

“Of course it will be hard. “Mexico is a great team with a great and very good coach, but a very good team and a very good coach, a very good person,” Pochettino said. “And of course it will be hard, but we will enjoy it.”

“There are not many coaches who have the competitiveness that he has, the ability, the emotional intelligence and the intelligence to lead the group and after the game for me he is one of the best, for me he is a great gentleman, he is a man with a lot of experience.

“I repeat it again, without wanting to, not wanting to, maybe it seems to me that I don't want to analyze Mexico,” he said, “but I think if we do it next month at the Nations Cup and at Concacaf can compete, I think that…” The approach is: “How are we going to be competitive tomorrow?”

After the friendly against Mexico, the United States will prepare to face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League.