USMNT's Pochettino Explains Latest Roster, Says 'Name' Won't Guarantee World Cup Spot

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino put his players on notice Thursday, suggesting that every roster spot would have to be earned and wouldn't be granted based on past pedigree alone.

"That is not because your name is one or another, that you are going to have the place [for] sure in the roster for the World Cup," he told reporters while talking about future roster decisions. "That I think is an idea that we were fighting in the last year to try to fix that, changed the culture, changed the vision, changed the idea of, 'OK is because in the past I performed in some way or because I did well four year ago now I am right to come and to use my place because that is my place.' And I think that is changed a lot."

AC Milan star Christian Pulisic will be on the team's roster for its upcoming October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia, while Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, Fulham fullback Antonee Robinson, Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann and Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris will return to the team as well.

Atalanta midfielder Yunus Musah and Gladbach defender Joe Scally were among the notable players who were left off the squad for non-injury reasons (Tyler Adams was as well, though that was due him and his wife expecting a baby in the coming days).

Pochettino didn't seem keen on offering insight into why players like Musah and Scally were excluded when asked.

"You can ask me why Messi is not in the roster, no? This type of player; Maradona, Pele, I don't know," he told reporters. "But when you're talking about different names, I think you need to respect the players that are here."