DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Sports

Pochettino frustrated by injured Richards’ World Cup status

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • US national team coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed frustration over defender Chris Richards' ankle injury impacting his World Cup status.
  • Richards, a key defender, is out for the friendly against Germany and his availability for the World Cup remains uncertain.
  • Pochettino suggested he might not have selected Richards if he had known the full extent of the injury timeline.

United States men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino voiced frustration Friday regarding defender Chris Richards' ongoing ankle injury, which jeopardizes his availability for the upcoming World Cup. Richards, a center-back for Crystal Palace with 36 caps for the US, is considered a likely starter alongside captain Tim Ream.

Today, he’s training… but he’s still not ready to compete and to play.

— Mauricio PochettinoDescribing Chris Richards' current physical condition.

Richards sustained the ankle injury last month and will miss the US team's friendly against Germany in Chicago on Saturday. While he was named in the preliminary World Cup squad, FIFA rules allow for player substitutions up to 24 hours before the tournament's opening match. Pochettino stated that Richards is training but "still not ready to compete and to play."

"After the Germany game, we have the possibility in the next few days to assess him and see his ankle... and then to make a decision," Pochettino said. The US opens its World Cup campaign next Friday in Los Angeles against Paraguay.

After the Germany game, we have the possibility in the next few days to assess him and see his ankle… and then to make a decision.

— Mauricio PochettinoOutlining the plan to evaluate Richards' fitness.

Pochettino expressed particular frustration with the uncertainty surrounding Richards' recovery timeline. "When we decided on the squad list, we thought Chris might play in the Conference League final," he said, adding that based on the information available, they believed he could participate in that match and possibly be available against Senegal. "In the end, the timelines dragged on a bit. It makes me a bit angry, I’m not happy about it, because we know Richards is an important player."

When we decided on the squad list, we thought Chris might play in the Conference League final.

— Mauricio PochettinoExplaining the initial expectations for Richards' return.

The coach suggested that waiting for Richards' recovery might be detrimental to the squad's preparation, as it could lead to selecting a player who hasn't been competing. "There isn’t much time at the World Cup," he noted.

In the end, the timelines dragged on a bit. It makes me a bit angry, I’m not happy about it, because we know Richards is an important player.

— Mauricio PochettinoExpressing frustration over the extended recovery period for Richards.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog