Pulisic urges Poch to bring back fighting spirit

If Mauricio Pochettino was pondering what his focus should be when he takes charge of the United States for the first time, his captain Christian Pulisic promptly provided him with the answer.

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Speaking after a 1-1 friendly draw with New Zealand on Sept 10, which left the team with just one win from their last seven games, the AC Milan winger got straight to the point.

"There's a lot of things that need to change... the mentality and the culture of the group. We have the quality," Pulisic said, before adding what kind of approach he wants to see.

"Hopefully, a culture that is willing to fight, that is willing to take risks, win."

What is strange for American fans is that while they have long known their teams are not technically or tactically on a level with the world's elite, fighting spirit is something their national team never lacked - but seemed to have disappeared in recent years.

The first US team to grab any global recognition, at the World Cup they hosted in 1994, were built on exactly such qualities.

Through the years under Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley, the US played a rudimentary style of football but could never have been accused of lacking fight.