Oct 10, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino talks with forward Christian Pulisic (10) before a second half substitution in at Q2 Stadium.

Mauricio Pochettino insisted that he would never endanger a player amid criticism of his handling of Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards last month.

Both players were left off Pochettino's U.S. men's national team roster for upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay.

Pulisic is currently in the final stages of recovery from a hamstring injury he suffered with the USMNT against Australia on Oct. 14. Richards, meanwhile, played over the weekend but had to miss Crystal Palace's previous game due to a calf issue.

AC Milan was reportedly upset with Pochettino over his usage of Pulisic during the October window. The forward was dealing with an ankle problem, but came off the bench against Ecuador and then started against Australia.

Pulisic's hamstring injury didn't appear related to his ankle issue and in a call with reporters on Thursday, Pochettino defended his usage of the 27-year-old last month.

"He played against Australia because he felt really good, because all the assessment from our doctors and medical staff was right and the player agreed with us," Pochettino said.

Crystal Palace was also upset with Pochettino after Richards went the distance against Ecuador and Australia. Unlike Milan, Palace didn't keep its grievances behind closed doors.

“My only complaint is the U.S. team didn’t talk to us because Chris was struggling with his calf for many weeks,” Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner said last week.

“We talked to them and said he should rest as they were just friendlies. But they played him twice, every single minute."

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The comments from Glasner struck a nerve with Pochettino, who said that the club needed to "accept the rules of football."

"I think Milan or Palace, the are not right to complain," he said. "Because the coaching staff cares about the players. We never meant to play a player with [any] doubt — never, never.

"Our medical staff is always in contact with the medical staff of all the clubs [where] we have players involved in the national team.

"I think to paint the frustration with the federation or with the national teams is not right. That makes me feel very disappointed, because I am very respectful with all the coaches, with all the clubs."

Pochettino also disagreed with Glasner's remarks that the USMNT's games in the lead-up to the World Cup are "just friendlies."

"If people say, 'Oh it's a friendly game' — no, that is wrong," he said. "We are not playing friendly games. We are playing games that are going to prepare us for our journey to the World Cup."

The USMNT will play its final games of 2025 starting next week. Pochettino's side will face Paraguay on Nov. 15 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. before taking on Uruguay at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on Nov. 18.

This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: Pochettino: AC Milan and Crystal Palace 'not right to complain' over injuries

Reporting by Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire / Pro Soccer Wire

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