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USMNT: 3 reasons why Jay DeMerit’s ‘gritty guys’ comment misguided

By Andrew Dowdeswell

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 11:The United States celebrates after a goal by United States midfielder Weston Mckennie (8) during the CONCACAF Nations League game between the USMNT and Cuba at Audi Field on Friday, October 11, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 11:The United States celebrates after a goal by United States midfielder Weston Mckennie (8) during the CONCACAF Nations League game between the USMNT and Cuba at Audi Field on Friday, October 11, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 11:The United States celebrates after a goal by United States midfielder Weston Mckennie (8) during the CONCACAF Nations League game between the USMNT and Cuba at Audi Field on Friday, October 11, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

Former U.S. Men’s National Team defender Jay DeMerit has said that the USMNT needs more ‘gritty guys’. Here are three reasons why his comments are wildly misguided.

The development of the U.S. Men’s National Team is a major topic in the American soccer world. Everyone wants to see the national team succeed, to compete with the very best in the world, to grow and develop and improve. But the ways in which to get there, and make no mistake, there is still a large distance between here and there for the U.S., are varied and there is wild debate about which is best. The latest to have his say on the current USMNT set-up and its development is former defender Jay DeMerit, who was speaking with OneSoccer Hangouts. And he has not covered himself in glory.

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Here are three reasons why his ‘gritty guys’ comments are wildly misguided.

VALENCIA, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 27: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea FC in action during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Chelsea FC at Estadio Mestalla on November 27, 2019 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
VALENCIA, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 27: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea FC in action during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Chelsea FC at Estadio Mestalla on November 27, 2019 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

3. Christian Pulisic isn’t good because he’s ‘gritty’

Amid his onslaught on the current team and their apparent lack of grit, DeMerit said the following about the star player in the talent pool, Christian Pulisic:

"“I love [Christian] Pulisic, I do. I believe he’s the next best thing. But I think he’s created that grit by moving to Germany as a teenager, getting balls rifled at him and working his way through the ranks in Germany, where they don’t take a day off.”"

DeMerit claims that Pulisic has developed this ‘grit’ because of his development in Germany, specifically at Borussia Dortmund where the cream of the crop around the world compete against one another for roles in the first team. And certainly, Pulisic will have suffered plenty of knock downs during his time at Dortmund. Elite sport is too ruthless for him to not have.

But it is not these knockdowns, and the subsequent resilience that he has built up, that make him the brilliant player he is. It is the very qualities that DeMerit disparages earlier: technical quality, athleticism, tactical awareness and understanding. Pulisic is the greatest American player in history because of his technical, athletic and mental skill, not his grit.

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