'It pisses me off!' - Christian Pulisic & Weston McKennie claim there is 'definitely a bias' against American players in Europe as USMNT captain's new Paramount Plus documentary causes instant stir

The likes of Pulisic and McKennie have helped to raise the profile of American players a long way outside of their homeland. International colleagues such as Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson have been doing likewise as they compete in Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands and England.

There are, however, considered to be barriers that stars from the United States are yet to break down. The USMNT are, despite the obvious potential in a squad that is now coached by ex-Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, yet to win over supporters outside of North America.

Pulisic and McKennie believe that is working against them, with the former – who has been catching the eye in Serie A with AC Milan - saying when quizzed about supposed bias on the new documentary from Paramount Plus that focuses on the USMNT’s current captain: “It pisses me off in a way. If it comes down to me or them and it’s a 50/50 for the call from the coach who’s going to play, or something like that, I think it exists.”

Juventus midfielder McKennie added: “There's definitely a bias. It’s just something that you get used to. I go through it most of the time whenever I’m at Juventus. Every year somehow I’m on the out and I’m ready to be discarded, and then it’s like every summer I’m a new player coming in having to make a name for myself.”

McKennie is nursing an injury at present, but has proved his worth to Juve again in the current campaign - earning him a contract extension in Turin. Ex-Chelsea star Pulisic, who is also on the treatment table, has become a talismanic presence at San Siro to spark talk of a possible return to the Premier League being in the pipeline.