Tyler Adams returns to USMNT: Once wanted by Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, new USA coach gets key piece back

While the national team of the United States is preparing for the semi -final of the Concacaf Nations League against Panama on Thursday 20 March Paramount+ At 7 p.m. the schedule will look a bit different than normally without players such as Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Sergino Dest and Brenden Aaronson, but there is an important returner to the center of the field in Tyler Adams.

Adams is struggling with different back and hamstring injuries and has not been in a USMNT camp since Copa America 2024, which will not only make his first performance since July last year, but if he comes to the field, it will be his first performance under Mauricio Pochettino in this new side. Adams has long been one of the most important members of the setup of the United States and has destroyed the side of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But now with the chance to win the fourth consecutive Concaf Nations League title, Adams is back and can contribute to the team, and it is something he is enthusiastic about.

“It is good to be back in the camp for the first time, a new manager. I have had a lot of different managers in my career and now to be able to work with another great, such as Mauricio is a huge honor,” said Adams. “I am excited to understand the processes and his thinking and the way he looks at the game, but clearly participated in some of the teams he has managed before, I know a few of the styles he plays.

“So yes, it’s exciting, but before you know it, we will blink and the World Cup will be here, so we want to make every training session, every occasion we have together with meaning and continuing to build.”

A leader on and out of the field, having Adams back will bring a lot to this team, but he is also a player who was previously also coveted by Pochettino. The Argentinian manager has stated that he was trying to add Adams to his Chelsea team and although that did not happen, some of those qualities with his defensive insight and the ability to keep tapping will help a strong presence and familiar balance in midfield.

Things can be a bit different than the “MMA” midfield of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Adams who now conquered the World Cup Stormerderhand with now on the wings, but that will not change the impact he can have. By playing week in and week for a team in the race for a European place in Bournemouth, Adams has a great shape for these games, but it is nothing he did not expect when he regularly played again.

“Every player needs healthy or no rhythm in his schedule and consistency. And now that I have found consistency, I knew that that is what would be necessary. So for me it was never doubt that I would come back to the level where I am,” Adams said. “It just took longer than expected. So yes, try to stay in the present moment, stay consistent with everything I have done, but I now feel much more robust now that just more consistent.”

That consistency is something that the USMNT has also tried to find, and if Adams can help bring it to the USMNT, it will go a long way to prepare this team at the World Cup in 2026. With all players who can be admitted to the Gold Cup in the summer in the summer because of the club world cup, it can be important for the usmnt to get a sense.