"Lay off him, let him have zero pressure, and just let him perform." Brad Friedel's message about Christian Pulisic is blunt — and after a goal drought that stretched into 2026, the timing matters.
The former USMNT keeper, capped 82 times, spoke to GOAL.com in the wake of the US's win over Senegal — a result that quieted some of the noise building around this squad heading into a home World Cup. Pulisic ended his club-and-country drought with a composed finish, taking a touch around the keeper and burying it. No deflections, no luck. A striker's goal.
The five Pochettino can't drop
Friedel didn't just defend Pulisic — he reframed the conversation entirely. The real foundation of this team, in his view, isn't about one player carrying the weight.
"I think if you look at the core of the team, it's more important that Chris Richards is fit. It's more important that Antonee Robinson's fit. It's more important that Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are fit," Friedel said. "These are the players I'd say were closer to being undroppable."
That's four names — Richards, Robinson, Adams, McKennie — plus Pulisic as the fifth piece. Get all five on the pitch, and Pochettino has something to build around. Lose one or two to injury or form, and the structure gets shaky fast.
It's a useful framing for anyone trying to assess US chances. Pulisic's availability and fitness has always been a talking point, but the availability of Adams and McKennie in central midfield is arguably just as critical to how this team functions. Both have dealt with injury issues at club level. When they're fit and paired together, the US have a midfield that can compete. When they're not, the drop-off is obvious.
Germany on Saturday, Paraguay on June 12th
One more tune-up comes Saturday against Germany before attention turns fully to the tournament. The World Cup opens June 11th with Mexico vs. South Africa; the US begin their campaign against Paraguay the following day.
The win over Senegal — a side ranked above the US — offered real encouragement, particularly Ricardo Pepi's performance up front. But Friedel's broader point stands: this squad is only as good as its five key pillars. Right now, they're all standing. The question is whether they stay that way through June.
