Christian Pulisic has taken a calm view of Mauricio Pochettino’s exit from the United States men’s national team setup for Manchester United, choosing instead to underline the team’s own direction.

Back in the squad for the first time since the World Cup after being left out of the September-October window, Pulisic said the departure represents a “big opportunity” for the Americans. But his message was clear: the players cannot afford to dwell on the change at the top.

“We just have to continue as we’re doing, to grow as a team,” Pulisic said.

The AC Milan winger, whose future in Serie A is now secured until 2031, did not always enjoy a smooth relationship with Pochettino. He was omitted earlier this season when the manager opted to assess younger talent, and there was also a public disagreement in 2025 when Pulisic wanted to sit out the Gold Cup.

Reflecting on Pochettino’s time in charge, Pulisic kept his assessment brief. “We had some good moments, he brought a lot of excitement to the team,” he added.

The bigger question now is whether Pulisic and the rest of this USMNT generation will see the next four-cycle through to the end. Since making his debut as a 17-year-old more than a decade ago, the 28-year-old, formerly of Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, has become the face of a group that has not matched, let alone surpassed, earlier standards.

Regional control has remained elusive at Gold Cup level, with Mexico still dominant, while the chance to reach a first World Cup quarter-final since 2002 was missed.

Pulisic started the summer’s home-advantage World Cup brightly, but his campaign was interrupted by injury inside 45 minutes against Paraguay. He missed the following match, never fully regained his influence, and eventually limped out of the painful defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 as well.

Mauricio Pochettino is preparing for a Manchester United beginning that will leave little room for adjustment. The incoming manager has made clear that the opening stretch at Old Trafford will be demanding, describing it as a “very intense” period.

Once the November international break ends, the English schedule moves quickly while other continental leagues ease into the festive period. Pochettino’s first seven matches in charge are set to be packed into three weeks, beginning with next Sunday’s visit to Liverpool.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Saturday, he was direct about what lies ahead: “it’s going to be very intense.” That assessment fits the shape of the job he is taking on, with pressure expected to remain constant from the outset.

There is, however, some statistical encouragement for a side in United’s position. A recent study found that over the 10 matches either side of a mid-season managerial change, points per game rose from 0.88 to 1.23. The same research also noted that “bad runs mostly end on their own,” showing that teams which stayed with their manager in similar circumstances improved from 0.91 points per game to 1.17.

United will still hope Pochettino can raise those numbers further, and he appears intent on using the qualities around him to do so. While discussing the open-ended nature of the release clause in his USMNT contract, he also said he had only spoken to United’s directors and one owner, rather than the man whose influence has long shaped his view of the club.

His admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson has been well known for years. “When I was young, when I started my career as a manager, he was always my inspiration, my reference,” the Argentina has said before. “And when you can share two hours with a person who was the greatest manager in the history of football , you can only enjoy.”

The two previously shared an expensive bottle of wine 10 years ago, when Ferguson first attempted to bring Pochettino to Old Trafford. Now, with the appointment complete, he is eager for another meeting with the man he has long admired.

“For sure I will have the opportunity after Tuesday,” Pochettino told The Telegraph. “I said many years ago and always I say the same-for me, Sir Alex Ferguson represents everything that I admire from a coach, a head coach, a man, a manager and I think he represents my values. I really admire him.”

Even more than 13 years after retirement, Ferguson’s presence still looms over the club. Michael Carrick regularly called his former manager while Ole Gunnar Solskjær refused to even use his parking space out of respect.

Mauricio Pochettino has walked into a difficult situation at Manchester United after Michael Carrick was finally removed following a poor start to the 2026/27 campaign. The new manager inherits a squad short on confidence, with the opening 15 matches offering little encouragement.

That backdrop makes a review of the players unavoidable. Several have struggled badly, while a few have at least offered partial reasons for hope.

Senne Lammens has gone backwards after an encouraging first season, with his confidence seemingly damaged by a costly mistake for Belgium at the World Cup. His error in the chaotic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa underlined the dip, although the protection in front of him has also been weak. The backup goalkeeper, signed on a free transfer, has barely featured and made an unconvincing competitive debut in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Diogo Dalot has once again looked like a player United should not be leaning on so heavily, while Harry Maguire’s limitations are exposed when the side is under pressure. Leny Yoro has found the Premier League’s speed and intensity difficult to handle, and Lisandro Martínez has produced three damaging moments, including his comical own goal against Fulham and his red card against Chelsea.

There have been steadier figures. Noussair Mazraoui remains unspectacular but reliable enough, while Kobbie Mainoo has continued to do his job in midfield. Bruno Fernandes has delivered nine goal involvements and a hat trick against Ipswich Town, though his criticism of Carrick after the defeat to Como was hardly ideal.

New arrivals such as Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba have all found the environment tough, for different reasons. Up front, Bryan Mbeumo has had to carry too much responsibility because of Benjamin Šeško’s injury, while Matheus Cunha has at least provided energy and decisive moments in comeback wins.

Joshua Zirkzee has offered some impact from the bench, Marcus Rashford’s return has produced very little, and Amad Diallo’s work rate has outstripped his end product. One bright note is Shea Lacey, who scored and assisted against Brighton in his only start and could earn more attention under Pochettino.