Henry defends Pulisic’s leadership abilities: “He’s not that guy” | OneFootball

Christian Pulisic’s captaincy of the USA National Team has been criticised a little after the side’s defeat to Canada. However, Thierry Henry has jumped to defend the AC Milan star.

With great power comes great responsibility, a proverb made popular in the Marvel comics, but a proverb that can be translated into many different things. For Pulisic, it is less power and more ability, and in turn, the responsibility often falls on him.

There is no denying that Pulisic is a heavily gifted footballer and Milan have been gifted the pleasure of being able to watch him grow towards his potential, whilst reaping the rewards from this. However, the American National Team are perhaps less grateful.

After the loss to Canada last night, and the loss to Panama in midweek, there have been some heavy criticisms of the team, and its leadership, but French legend Henry feels that the criticisms of Pulisic are perhaps unjust, as he spoke to CBS Sports.

As a manager, have you empowered a player by giving them the captaincy, because you want more from them? Do you need more from Pulisic, so that is why he is the captain…

“The coach is trying to find out who is the captain, but I need to say something. I do think that Christian Pulisic is a good player, a very good one. He is playing week in, week out and delivering in a good team in Europe.

“You also have to stop that narrative that he is not that type of leader. Stop that, don’t force him to be that. He is a technical leader, but is he the enforcer? Gattuso was not Pirlo you know, and vice versa. That does not mean he is not the best player in this team.

“Is he the type of guy that will be vocal? No, he’s not that guy. He is very good at a lot of things, but he doesn’t have that type of leadership. But, that is ok, stop making him something that he’s not. Concentrate on what he does, he’s very good and playing in the best position for him.

“We have to stop the narrative that he will be Clint Dempsey. He’s not. He’s not going to be that guy. He said it himself that he struggles in that role. Right now, stop looking for something that he is not yet.”