Christian Pulisic has expressed his desire to feature for the United States in the coming Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Pulisic feels honored representing his country but that remains to be seen if his club Chelsea will allow him. Should USMNT qualify for the tournament Chelsea might be forced to be without the US winger.
“The Olympics is of course a massive honor to play in, and to represent your country in an Olympics would be amazing,” Pulisic said.
“I am fully supporting the guys in qualifying now. It is something I’ve thought about and that I’ve wanted to play in.
“Obviously I can’t control exactly what goes on and what is best for me at the time and the team at the time. I can’t say, but it is something that I would like to play in,” he added.
Despite Pulisic’s dream, the US senior coach Gregg Berhalter said he doubted whether European clubs would be willing to release players. He admits that he would like the strongest possible US team for the Olympics games.
On whether his team will feature the likes of Pulisic Berhalter answered, “I’m not the one to answer that question. The one to answer that question are the players’ clubs.”
“Because we have to sit and have the conversations with these clubs and say to them ‘OK guys, here’s what’s coming up in the calendar. Do you want to release your players for the Olympics?’ And what are they going to say? It’s an uphill battle that we’re fighting,” he continued.
“If we’re in a perfect world, there is nothing more I would like to see than our best group competing in the Olympics — it would be amazing. I’m just not sure that’s going to happen.
“I’m not sure the clubs are going to allow the players to go,” he doubts.
Yunus Musah who echoed Pulisic’s desire expressed his willingness too.
“I’m just trying to do my best for the U.S. whenever I’m required to do so,” the Valencia winger said.
“If that’s at the Olympics too, then I’d be happy to play in them and be involved with it.”