​U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino vowed to change the attitude and habits of the American national team as he starts a second term, appearing to refer to star Christian Pulisic’s decision to skip the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.“It was difficult to make the roster for the Gold Cup one year before because the mindset was different,” Pochettino said Monday during an online question-and-answer session with reporters. “You say, ‘If I play, I have not holidays. I cannot arrive fresh for the World Cup.’ … You know now that is bull—-.”Pochettino said his goal “is to change this type of idea that are not right.”Pulisic, the top American player, took himself out of consideration for the 2025 Gold Cup citing the need to rest after his season with AC Milan and the hope to be fresh for the 2026 World Cup. He didn’t score in four World Cup appearances this year, missing one group-stage match because of a calf injury and leaving the Americans’ round of 16 loss to Belgium on July 6 after fracturing his right tibia and fibula.He had 10 goals in his first 15 matches for AC Milan last season but went scoreless in 19 club games after Dec. 28. He has been an unused substitute in AC Milan’s first three games this season.Pochettino took over from Gregg Berhalter in the fall of 2024 and was given a four-year contract in a deal announced last month.Pochettino plans to announce his roster on Sept. 17 for the first games of his second term, a double window that includes friendlies against Peru (Sept. 26 in Orlando, Florida), Chile (Sept. 29 in St. Louis), Mexico (Oct. 3 in Glendale, Arizona) and Canada (Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota). In their first competitive matches since the World Cup, the Americans play CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals in November.“A new process, new project, new rules, new principles,” he said, speaking from London. “I think that the headline needs to be that (it) is a new start, a fresh start. And I think we need to change habits.”“We need to create a group of players that (are) really being professional and compete in the way that we expect that they need to compete,” he added.Players dropped from the World Cup roster, such as midfielders Diego Luna, Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris, could return. Young players such as 16-year-old Philadelphia midfielder Cavan Sullivan could be included for possible debuts.Some, such as 19-year-old Crystal Palace winger Zavier Gozo, could be left off to allow them time to integrate with new clubs following summer transfers. Pochettino also expressed uncertainty about midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and defender Max Arfsten, who transferred to Middlesbrough.Pochettino said players could be given national team debuts before they focus on the under-23 team, which will be coached by former U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo heading toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He cited a “need to be careful” with youngsters.“You need to (have) confidence. You need to have the trust in yourself an