Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner after the Austrian boss criticised the United States’ handling of defender Chris Richards during the last international break.
Glasner voiced frustration on Wednesday, claiming the USMNT ignored Palace’s warning that Richards was nursing a calf injury. Despite the advice, the defender featured in both friendlies in October, playing every minute.
“My only complaint is the U.S. team didn’t talk to us because Chris was struggling with his calf for many weeks,” Glasner told reporters. “We talked to them and said he should rest as they were just friendlies. But they played him twice, every single minute. That’s a little bit disappointing. On the other side, we’ve tried to manage his minutes here.”
Richards has been an ever-present for Palace in the Premier League this season but missed the club’s Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool after returning from international duty.
However, Pochettino, who now manages the US national team, was quick to defend his medical and coaching staff.
“It’s difficult for the coaches, I think, because it happened to me in the past,” Pochettino told talkSPORT. “When you are a head coach in a club, you are always egoist, you don’t think about the national team or sometimes you believe that you have the right to say things that are not right.
“I think we managed very well the situation that you are asking me about Richards. We played him because he was ready to play and he didn’t suffer any issue with that.”
The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss also made it clear that his team values communication with clubs.
“I think it’s the coaches in the clubs, they need to understand that the players want to play for the national team. But I think I feel disappointed with the words. I am very disappointed with Oliver because we always respect and we as the coaching staff respect the player and we respect the clubs.
“Our medical area is in contact with all the clubs that we have players at and always we will take the best decision for the player. That is not to risk and then thinking that the player needs to be fit and feel well to have the possibility to perform in the club that they belong to and also for the national team.”
Still, Pochettino acknowledged Glasner’s frustration but suggested he might feel differently one day.
“I am disappointed, but in some points I understand. I understand that sometimes coaches can complain about the national team. We’ll see one day if he’s in my position to be a coach in the national team where he can understand this type of situation. But OK, it’s not a big deal.”
The exchange adds another twist to the ongoing club-versus-country debate, with both managers standing firm on their stance over player management and fitness.
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