Mauricio Pochettino Says Pulisic, USMNT Players 'Cannot Dictate' Which Games They Play

United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is putting his foot down.

After star winger Christian Pulisic offered to play in pre-Concacaf Gold Cup friendlies but not in the actual tournament, Pochettino called out Pulisic and the rest of the USMNT players for lacking commitment.

"Players need to listen and to stick with our plan," Pochettino told reporters Saturday. "They cannot dictate the plan.

"The most important thing is that we explain why we decided not to include him in the two friendly games. And then if you have some problems, no, that is not my problem to understand." Pochettino continued. "When I signed my contract in the federation, I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin."

Pulisic recently told CBS Sports’ Call It What You Want that while he respected Pochettino’s decision to leave him out of the friendlies, he “didn’t understand it.”

"It's true that he wanted to come to be involved in the two friendly games ... [but] for us, the Gold Cup is an important tournament," Pochettino responded. "Yes, it was my decision, it was our decision not to include [Pulisic] in the two friendly games, and that's it."

The U.S lost both the friendlies and will be without not only Pulisic for the Gold Cup but several other players including Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah and Sergiño Dest.