Pochettino explains why Pepi stays at PSV

Pochettino rested Pepi to continue fitness work at PSV after his October injury; Dest will represent USMNT in Nations League qualifiers.

US national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has explained his decision to leave Ricardo Pepi out of the squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti. Pochettino said at a press conference that keeping the PSV striker in Eindhoven to continue his fitness work was the better option, as Pepi is not yet at 100 per cent following an injury that sidelined him for most of October.

Pepi has since returned to action as a substitute for PSV against Willem II and Club Brugge. Fellow PSV player Sergiño Dest will travel to represent the United States in the two-legged tie.