Cristina Alexander

Prefers to remain anonymous.

I respect that, but I know you're watching, so thank you.

Extremely important for national team level competition.

competition is maybe one of the biggest elements of success.

And I understand where Mauricio Pochettino is coming from because he's made decisions that impact the status of the quote-unquote high-end players.

Star players.

Star players.

And he's given opportunities to those in the domestic level, MLS players.

And...

When you're about to face a World Cup, with the expectations being the host nation, not only you need the best players in your roster, not only do you need 11 great players to start game one, you need 26 competitive players.

That is going to create not only competition within the US Men's National Team, but it's going to give Mauricio Pochettino more options during the tournament.

So I understand why he's saying that.

But I also feel that he's saying it because at the same time, he's justifying himself with the decisions that he has made that, again, have impacted those star players that at this moment are wondering

A year and a half ago, I was a safe bet to be a part of the roster, maybe even starting in the World Cup.

Well, maybe that's no longer the case for some of these players.

I want to follow up with what you said regarding making players feel uncomfortable.

And I agree to a certain extent.

I see it maybe with a different perspective.

It's not only about making feel star players uncomfortable.

Maybe if you look at it glass half full,