MARIETTA, Georgia — United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned he is contemplating some tactical adjustments to assist star forward Christian Pulisic in regaining his scoring form.
The U.S. is set to face Portugal on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, following a lopsided 5-2 defeat to Belgium on Saturday, where the Americans — including Pulisic — were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Both Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun were thwarted by impressive saves from Belgium’s Senne Lammens in the first half, and in the 14th and 52nd minutes, Pulisic generated promising chances from quick offensive plays, but was unable to direct accurate shots on goal.
Pochettino expressed that while he was pleased with the attacking chances his team created — and acknowledged that defensive lapses were a more significant concern — the lack of effective finishing was a source of frustration for him.
“When you look at the game statistics,” Pochettino stated, “we had clear opportunities to score.” The Argentine also indicated that his subdued reaction to McKennie’s goal, which put the U.S. ahead in the 39th minute, was partly due to this frustration.
“My instinct was not positive,” Pochettino remarked. “Because when we scored, it should have been the third goal, not the first one.”
Pulisic recorded three shot attempts, but none resulted in a goal during his seventh consecutive match for the U.S. without finding the net. His last goal for the national team was against Jamaica in November 2024 — and he has yet to score in 2026 for either club or country.
The former Chelsea winger’s most recent competitive goal occurred on December 28, but in his last 12 appearances for AC Milan, he has not scored from any of his 29 shot attempts. He has also provided just one assist during that period.
After a strong start to his club season — Pulisic netted six goals and provided two assists in his first seven matches across all competitions — he was initially hindered by a hamstring issue, followed by a knee injury that caused him to miss time early in 2026.
While emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent intensity, even in international friendlies, Pochettino did indicate that he has been considering methods to help Pulisic regain his form.
“We know that [Christian] can score,” he noted, but “perhaps tomorrow [they could explore] ways to assist him in starting.”
This could involve modifying the lineup to create more opportunities for him, or it might simply entail adjusting Pulisic’s positional role.
“Perhaps we can assist him in getting a bit closer to the goal,” Pochettino mentioned, adding that no specific plan had been finalized yet. “This is an idea that has been on my mind since Saturday.”
“We need to evaluate with the medical staff, coaching staff, and the player.”
Despite the missed chances, defensive errors and a drop in intensity were evidently central to Saturday’s loss.
“Until we conceded the third goal, I believe we performed well against Belgium,” Pochettino stated. “After the significant chance for Christian inside the box, we conceded the [second] goal. Then, after another opportunity we created with [Tim] Weah, we conceded the penalty. That moment was particularly challenging for us.”
Belgium took the lead with Amadou Onana’s goal in the 53rd minute, then extended their advantage to 3-1 with Charles De Ketelaere’s successful penalty. Before the U.S. could attempt another shot, Dodi Lukebakio had scored twice, bringing the score to 5-1.
Monday was not the first occasion Pochettino has voiced his dissatisfaction with his team’s intensity levels, noting that there are numerous examples of the intensity he seeks.
“Watch football,” Pochettino advised. “If you observe the match [between] France and Colombia, that is the intensity.”
France triumphed over Colombia 3-1 on Sunday in a friendly match outside Washington D.C.
“They played as if it were the World Cup final. And France, upon witnessing the intensity and aggression of Colombia, realized, ‘If we [aren’t] intense, they will overpower us.'” Pochettino remarked. “That is the intensity. Do you think that [France head coach Didier] Deschamps or [Colombian coach] Nestor Lorenzo told their players: ‘We need to be intense.’ Or did you observe some drive, some urgency in every single moment?”
Pochettino expressed his hope that Saturday’s defeat could serve as a valuable learning opportunity.
“I am pleased that this occurred because there is still time to understand that we need to compete,” he stated. “[France-Colombia] was not a ‘friendly’ match. [It was] genuinely competitive.
“The players must believe in that. If not, what are we doing here?”
