Americans Abroad

Timothy Weah concussed for Lille; Mihailovic joins USMNT roster

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The United States men’s national team will not have Timothy Weah for next week’s CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador.

Weah, the 23-year-old USMNT forward, was injured Saturday in Lille’s Ligue 1 match versus Toulouse, where he’s often playing fullback on the left and right sides.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ] 

An aerial collision with a Toulouse midfielder in stoppage time of Lille’s 2-0 win left Weah requiring a precautionary neck brace and stretcher to get of the pitch.

Lille has started Weah in 10-straight matches, and the French outfit’s only lost twice.

Djordje Mihailovic added to CONCACAF Nations League roster

Djordje Mihailovic is back in the fold after spending much time as a popular uncalled figure under previous (and maybe future) USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter.

Mihailovic made the move from MLS to AZ Alkmaar this winter and he’s been a feature player for the Dutch side. Prolific in MLS, he so far has a goal and an assist in nine appearances for his Eredivisie side.

The 24-year-old Mihailovic has six caps for the U.S., though five came in 2019 including his scoring debut against Panama. But he  barely featured in the Gold Cup and didn’t against see the pitch for the USMNT until Dec. 10, 2020 against El Salvador.

The U.S. plays at Grenada on Friday and against El Salvador on March 27 in Orlando.

Christian Pulisic Watch: How did USMNT star play for Chelsea vs Everton?

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Christian Pulisic, now healthy, drew his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day when he joined the Chelsea XI for Saturday’s match with pink-clad Everton, going 62 minutes for the Blues.

A knee injury kept him out of a Premier League lineup from Jan. 12 to March 11, when he made a cameo off the bench against Leicester City.

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Those 17 minutes came after six against old club Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League tie.

Pulisic made some waves this week when he seemed to endorse the USMNT return of head coach Gregg Berhalter, calling actions taken against the former boss by Giovanni Reyna’s family “extremely childish” and “youth soccer.”

Below is our minute-by-minute analysis of Christian Pulisic after his display for Chelsea against Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Christian Pulisic Watch, live: Minute-by-minute focus on USMNT star vs Everton

3rd minute: Pulisic fizzes a cross toward goal but Kai Havertz can’t get his head on it as Chelsea has almost immediately claimed territory in the Everton end.

10th minute: A Reece James cross is just a bit too high for the Pulisic, as the diminutive leaper finds himself looking to make the most of dangerous service.

16th minute: Pulisic drops deep to get an incisive pass from Mateo Kovacic, turning and dribbling through the center to lay off to Ben Chilwell, but the move dies soon afterward.

26th minute: The American is cut down by Idrissa Gana Gueye in a nasty sliding challenge, and stays down for a minute as he helped Chelsea keep possession. Gana Gueye will get booked at the next whistle.

28th minute: Pulisic has the ball in a half-space and gets it to Joao Felix in the same spot, but the Atleti loanee’s bright dart into the box is cut out by the Toffees.

31st minute: The USMNT winger scoops a little pass into traffic that Havertz does well to get his foot to, but the flag is up.

35th minute: Pulisic is part of a tic-tac-toe break right to left that ends up with a Ben Chilwell cross over the field and without receiver.

36th minute: The American takes a Demarai Gray in the face (Rob Riggle voice) and needs some care from the trainers. It’s very surprising that he’s given the all-clear and how he looks the rest of the way will be under scrutiny.

45’+3: Pulisic lofts a cross toward the back post but it arrives a bit too quickly for two men screaming toward the target.

HALFTIME: The oft-fouled Pulisic is credited with a created chance, 27 touches, two passes into the final third, a block, and two recoveries. The stat sheet doesn’t show a full-merit Gray free kick to the Puli-face. The match is 0-0.

51st minute: Progresses the ball down the flank, followed by three Toffees. Drops the ball back Chilwell and the attack flips to the right side.

54th minute: GOAL, JOAO FELIX! Pulisic is running toward the far post to meet a Chilwell cross, but it’s blocked and winds up at the feet of Felix. A low drive through traffic kisses the far post and rolls over the line for 1-0.

56th minute: GOAL! But offside! Pulisic spins a tremendous shot past Jordan Pickford from distance, but Joao Felix was offside on the initial ball.

60th minute: Pulisic leaps but cannot control a wayward ball near the halfway line. Chelsea still leads 1-0 at the hour mark.

63rd minute: Subs off — That’s it for Pulisic. A very “off the ball” day for the American but Graham Potter will likely have noted that his runs created a lot of room including on Felix’s goal.

Jesse Marsch fired by Leeds United

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Jesse Marsch has been fired by Leeds United just under one year after appointing the ex-USMNT player.

Leeds thanked Marsch for his time with the club and said they hope to have an appointment sealed as soon as possible.

Wisconsin native Marsch, 49, has led Montreal Impact, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg, and RB Leipzig in his young managerial career.

VIDEO: Premier League highlights ] 

The twice-capped Marsch twice won the Supporters’ Shield with New York Red Bulls and won two domestic doubles with Salzburg.

He finishes his time at Leeds with a record of 11W-10D-16L.

What’s next for Jesse Marsch? What’s next for Leeds?

Let’s get this out of the way: Our site’s been a big backer of Jesse Marsch. There are varying degrees of blame to be thrown around for Leeds’ current position, but it’s also difficult to say a coaching change was absolutely out of the question.

Marsch will instantly be linked with the vacant United States men’s national team should he be ready to move back from Europe. His star may need a strong World Cup to burn bright enough for a Premier League return, but he will certainly have opportunities in Europe perhaps before the end of this season, too.

Leeds is being linked with Carlos Corberan of West Bromwich Albion by Fabrizio Romano and others. The 39-year-old Spaniard had been with Huddersfield Town and Olympiacos before joining the Baggies. Corberan has been red-hot through 16 matches in charge of West Brom.

Leeds United statement on firing Jesse Marsch

Leeds United can confirm head coach Jesse Marsch has been relieved of his duties.

Jesse joined the club in February 2022 and was instrumental in keeping the club in the Premier League on the final day of last season.

Rene Maric, Cameron Toshack and Pierre Barrieu will also leave the club.

We would like to thank Jesse and his backroom staff for their efforts and wish them well for the future.

The process of appointing a new head coach is underway and we will continue to keep supporters up to date throughout the coming days.

Jesse Marsch adds USMNT, RBNY alum Chris Armas as assistant coach

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LEEDS, England — Leeds added another American to its coaching staff by hiring former United States midfielder Chris Armas to be an assistant to compatriot Jesse Marsch.

Armas was Marsch’s assistant at New York Red Bulls from 2015-18 before becoming head coach when Marsch moved to German team Leipzig.

The 50-year-old Armas worked under interim coach Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United last season, leaving before Erik ten Hag took over as the permanent manager.

[ MORE: Premier League midseason grades ]

“He brings a wealth of experience from across the world,” Marsch said of Armas, “and, having worked closely with him previously, I am sure he will help us to improve every day.”

Armas, who spent his playing career at the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire and made 66 appearances for the United States, is expected to be in the dugout for Leeds’ FA Cup match at third-tier Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Leeds has American players Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson in its team, and has been linked with a move for another U.S. international, Weston McKennie.

Hoffenheim brings USMNT’s John Brooks back to Bundesliga

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SINSHEIM, Germany — Hoffenheim is bringing American defender John Brooks back to the Bundesliga from Portuguese club Benfica.

The 29-year-old Brooks signed a deal through June 2024, Hoffenheim said Thursday in a statement. Kicker magazine reported Hoffenheim paid 300,000 euros ($327,000) for the transfer.

“I’m delighted to be returning to the Bundesliga,” Brooks was quoted as saying. “I know both the league and TSG (Hoffenheim) very well, and am highly motivated to get started straightaway and do my bit to help us get back on the path to success in the short term.”

[ MORE: U.S. Soccer to start sporting director search ]

Brooks made 216 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg from 2013-22. He came through Hertha’s youth system and made 29 second-division appearances as he helped the team clinch promotion in 2013. Brooks joined Wolfsburg in a record transfer for an American player in 2017.

Brooks only made five appearances after joining Benfica last September. He was unable to force his way back into contention for a spot on the United States’ World Cup squad. He was dropped by coach Gregg Berhalter after appearing in two of the first three qualifiers and has not been selected for the national team since.

Hoffenheim has been struggling lately and has not won any of its last seven games.

“Jay is a seasoned, tough-tackling and aerially strong defender who really needs no further introduction,” Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen said. “He should and will contribute to improving our defensive stability with his experience, his vision and his presence.”