USA coach Pochettino blasts AC Milan ace Pulisic: I'm no DUMMY!

The AC Milan attacker has cited fatigue for the decision, though has made himself available for friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland.

But Pochettino has since raged: "The players must listen and stick to our plans, not do as they please. He explained why he only wanted to participate in two games and not in the Gold Cup, and I respect that but he must understand my position.

"It is up to us to evaluate whether a player needs rest or not, because we have a group of professionals, sports doctors and athletic trainers from the federation, who can evaluate him.

"You say he is our best player. Yes, he is a good player, of course, but he has to prove it. If he plays well and if he is the best, it is normal that he has a place in the national team. But it is not that if he says he wants to play, that he wants to do this or that, then it has to be like that.

"When I signed the contract with the Federation, I did it to be the head coach, not a dummy."