Balogun Pushes Pochettino From Monaco
The striker shines at AS Monaco but still struggles to replicate his impact with the United States national team
Folarin Balogun is enjoying a strong run of form with AS Monaco, where his performances sharply contrast with what he has shown for the United States under Mauricio Pochettino.
After their elimination against Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco have gone seven Ligue 1 matches unbeaten, with the New York-born striker playing a key role. His latest standout performance came against Olympique de Marseille, where he sealed the win with a goal and once again displayed his killer instinct.
Balogun impressed not only with his goal but also with his intensity: nine runs, defensive contributions, and a near top-tier rating highlighted his performance. His persistence in front of goal continues to make him a constant attacking threat.
At the same time, his form sends a clear message to Pochettino, as he has yet to replicate that level with the USMNT. In the friendly against the Belgium national team, he started and played 71 minutes without impact, while Patrick Agyemang came on and scored.
Against the Portugal national team, the Argentine coach switched systems, even deploying Christian Pulisic as a false nine, but with little success. Balogun came off the bench and had minimal involvement, recording just one shot and limited touches.
While his influence continues to grow in France, he remains an unestablished figure in the national team setup. Still, his performances with Monaco keep making a strong case for a bigger role.
