Latest news with #MarkPulisic
CNA
10 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Pulisic's dad fires back at Donovan
Christian Pulisic's dad Mark hit back at Landon Donovan on Monday after the U.S. soccer great appeared to criticize the midfielder for his decision to sit out the upcoming Gold Cup to rest after wrapping up his season with AC Milan. On Sunday, Donovan was a pundit for the UEFA Nations League final, in which Portugal beat Spain on penalties, for Fox Sports and made it clear he was unhappy with Pulisic's decision to ask U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino to leave him out of the Gold Cup squad. "This is what it means to represent your country," Donovan said on the broadcast while watching Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. "This is what it means. And if you don't want to take this as a professional soccer player, as someone who gets the opportunity to wear that jersey and take it seriously and responsibly, then don't come in. This is what it means. "He's (Ronaldo) 40-years-old. He's played a long ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding. Hurt himself in the process, and I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off." While Donovan did not mention Pulisic by name, it was clear he was referring to him as well as Yunus Musah and Antonee Robinson, who are also skipping the tournament for rest despite not being injured, according to USA Today. By way of response, Mark Pulisic asked ChatGPT to explain Donovan's sabbatical from soccer in 2012-2013, which ultimately led to him being left out of the 2014 World Cup squad. "Landon Donovan took his sabbatical because he was feeling both physically and mentally exhausted after years of intense competition and the pressure that comes with being a top athlete," the AI programme said in a response to the prompt. "He'd been playing professionally from a young age and had participated in multiple World Cups, so he felt the need to step back and take some time for himself. This break allowed him to rest, travel, and ultimately return to the game with a refreshed mindset." Mark Pulisic posted a screenshot of the ChatGPT reply on Instagram and Christian liked it. Donovan is not alone in being critical of Pulisic's decision with former U.S. great Alexi Lalas levelling similar criticisms, saying the team needs as much playing time together as they can get with the World Cup coming to the U.S., Mexico and Canada next year.
Reuters
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Pulisic's dad fires back at Donovan
June 9 (Reuters) - Christian Pulisic's dad Mark hit back at Landon Donovan on Monday after the U.S. soccer great appeared to criticize the midfielder for his decision to sit out the upcoming Gold Cup to rest after wrapping up his season with AC Milan. On Sunday, Donovan was a pundit for the UEFA Nations League final, in which Portugal beat Spain on penalties, for Fox Sports and made it clear he was unhappy with Pulisic's decision to ask U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino to leave him out of the Gold Cup squad. "This is what it means to represent your country," Donovan said on the broadcast while watching Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. "This is what it means. And if you don't want to take this as a professional soccer player, as someone who gets the opportunity to wear that jersey and take it seriously and responsibly, then don't come in. This is what it means. "He's (Ronaldo) 40-years-old. He's played a long ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding. Hurt himself in the process, and I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off." While Donovan did not mention Pulisic by name, it was clear he was referring to him as well as Yunus Musah and Antonee Robinson, who are also skipping the tournament for rest despite not being injured, according to USA Today. By way of response, Mark Pulisic asked ChatGPT to explain Donovan's sabbatical from soccer in 2012-2013, which ultimately led to him being left out of the 2014 World Cup squad. "Landon Donovan took his sabbatical because he was feeling both physically and mentally exhausted after years of intense competition and the pressure that comes with being a top athlete," the AI programme said in a response to the prompt. "He'd been playing professionally from a young age and had participated in multiple World Cups, so he felt the need to step back and take some time for himself. This break allowed him to rest, travel, and ultimately return to the game with a refreshed mindset." Mark Pulisic posted a screenshot of the ChatGPT reply on Instagram and Christian liked it. Donovan is not alone in being critical of Pulisic's decision with former U.S. great Alexi Lalas levelling similar criticisms, saying the team needs as much playing time together as they can get with the World Cup coming to the U.S., Mexico and Canada next year.
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Christian Pulisic's father tells Landon Donovan to ‘grow a pair' after criticism of son
Christian Pulisic's father, Mark, has continued the proud tradition of scrappy US soccer parents by firing back at Landon Donovan over perceived criticism of his son. Christian Pulisic has chosen not to play for the US men's national team at this summer's Gold Cup after a long season with his club team, Milan. During Fox Sports' coverage of the Uefa Nations League final between Portugal and Spain on Sunday, Donovan appeared to reference Pulisic's withdrawal from the USMNT squad, although he did not mention the player by name. Christian Pulisic's dad Mark claps back at Landon Donovan for criticizing USMNT players for sitting out of the Gold Cup, referencing the sabbatical he took in his career. Christian Pulisic also liked the post. [Cristiano Ronaldo]'s 40 years old,' said Donovan, who won 157 caps for the USMNT. 'He's played a long ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding. Hurt himself in the process, and I can't help but think about our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off.' On Sunday evening, Mark Pulisic posted to Instagram a ChatGPT answer detailing Donovan's decision to take a sabbatical from soccer in 2013. Mark Pulisic added the comment: 'This guy is talking about commitment. Look in the mirror + grow a pair and call names out, or are you afraid? Next time you want an interview, you will get rejected again.' His son added a like to the post. In May, Donovan addressed his own sabbatical in the context of Pulisic's decision to sit out the Gold Cup. 'I understand very clearly what it's like to need a break,' said Donovan, whose call then-US head coach Jürgen Klinsmann said contributed to the decision to cut Donovan from the 2014 World Cup team. 'If there's something serious going on in your life, in your family, mentally, whatever, I get it. I'm going to assume for the sake of this conversation that's not going on. If they would actually come out and give reasons, it would help us, but none of them want to say anything publicly. I think it would help them publicly to say 'this is why.'' Pulisic enjoyed his best season in Europe in 2024-25, putting in standout performances for Milan, even as the club slumped to eighth place in Serie A. Pulisic's decision to sit out the Gold Cup is unsurprising – he last played in the tournament, which is held every two years, in 2019. The Gold Cup is contested by Concacaf nations and occasional guest teams – Saudi Arabia will play in this year's edition. Mark Pulisic's angry response to criticism of his son has echoes of a dispute involving Christian's USMNT teammate Gio Reyna. In 2023, the Reyna family notified the US Soccer Federation of a decades-old incident involving then USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter and his wife in response to Berhalter's criticism of Reyna at a speaking event.
