United States men’s national team midfielder Tyler Adams admitted that missing two March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal due to a hamstring injury was an extremely difficult experience. The USMNT lost both matches, 2-5 and 0-2, while Adams watched from afar. Known for his competitive nature, he revealed that not being able to support his teammates during tough times made him feel agonized.
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m the ultimate competitor and will do anything to win,” Adams told USA Today Sports. “The hardest part was not being able to feel the pain and see the morale of the team when we were struggling.” The Bournemouth star has since returned to action and is helping his club push for a historic Premier League finish and a Champions League spot.
New USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to announce his squad on May 25, and Adams is almost certain to be included. The two have crossed paths before in Europe – Adams made his Champions League debut for RB Leipzig in 2020, eliminating Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur. Adams also revealed that he had an opportunity to join Chelsea when Pochettino was in charge there, noting “it’s a small world in football.”
Adams has high praise for Pochettino, saying that many people have told him about the Argentine’s qualities as both a coach and a person, and that these claims have been confirmed during the national team camp. He described their personal conversations as “very deep,” with the manager making efforts to understand every player. “We hope that together we can make US soccer better,” Adams said, looking forward to returning to the national team.
