Since Dave Sarachan took over the United States men’s national soccer team in October 2017, his focus was on the younger players. Since he took over, 18 new players have made their debuts for the senior team.
This meant that some of the USMNT veterans like Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore failed to receive call-ups for recent friendly games. However, Sarachan didn’t rule out calling them in the future and said that they still have a role in the team.
The 64-year-old coach told reporters on Wednesday that he recently spoke with Bradley, and explained to the player that there would be a time when the team will count on veteran players once again.
“We’re not discounting the value of veteran leadership, and Michael falls into that category,” – said Sarachan. “There will be a time, I’m sure when we’re going to count on those players like Michael to be a part of this. We had a good conversation, and I think he understands where we are.”
While U.S. Soccer Federation looks for a permanent solution for USMNT’s coaching position, Dave Sarachan will continue to fill the interim role at least until the end of the year. USMNT has five friendly matches to play until the end of the year, including home games against Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. According to Sarachan, the fans can expect to see a similar roster that played in the several recent friendlies.
“I would say that the roster, if you followed our team over the last six friendlies, will be composed pretty similarly to what we’ve done in the past,” – he said. “But I feel very confident that the group we’re going to bring will be very competitive.“
