Tyler Adams says the U.S. Men’s National Team isn’t paying attention to criticism from former stars.
Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, who each hold the USMNT’s scoring record with 57 goals, have voiced frustration over key regulars missing from the current roster ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup.
“We don’t discuss that as a group,” Adams said Wednesday in a Zoom interview with The Associated Press. “Outside noise is just outside noise. We’re focused on what we need to do collectively and how we keep building.”
Christian Pulisic, one of the team’s biggest names, has opted out of the June camp and Gold Cup to recover after logging roughly 120 matches over the last two seasons with club and country.
Dempsey questioned that decision during an appearance on the Men in Blazers podcast: “Whether it was the Gold Cup, Copa América, Confederations Cup, or World Cup, I never skipped tournaments. I always wanted to play in those games. I don’t really understand it because that wasn’t my mentality.”
Donovan, speaking on Fox’s postgame show after Portugal’s win over Spain in the Nations League final, added: “I can’t help but think about our guys on vacation instead of competing in the Gold Cup.”
Pulisic hasn’t publicly addressed his absence. Meanwhile, the U.S. is enduring its worst run since 2007, losing four straight matches, including a 4-0 defeat to Switzerland on Tuesday.
“This is part of the journey,” Adams said. “You win some, you lose some. The goal is to keep developing, stay on the path, and apply what we’re working on in training. It takes time, but it will come together.”
Adams, who didn’t feature in the Switzerland match, expects to be fit for the Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.
