Vlatko Andonovski has confirmed that even prior to her recent injury, Christen Press did not make the U.S. women’s national team roster for the upcoming CONCACAF W Championship.
Press was was forced out of Angel City FC’s game Saturday night against Racing Louisville, limping off the field with an apparent knee injury.
Though it seemed possible that Press’s exclusion was due to her injury, particularly with fellow veterans Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe returning to the squad, Andonovski made it clear that was not the case.
“I have to say that Christen Press was not on the roster even before the injury,” Andonovski told reporters on Monday. “We’re very sorry for her injury and don’t have confirmed information on the extent or the significance of the injury, we just hope that it is not too serious.”
Press has not been with the USWNT since last summer’s Olympics, after which she took time away from the game to focus on her mental health.
Though Andonovski believes Press is doing well with Angel City, he cited the increased forward competition with the USWNT as the reason for her exclusion.
“I think that she’s performing well but it’s not just her now at this point, it’s her competing with the players that are in front of her,” Andonovski said.
“For Christen to be back on the field it’s not just to perform well in her club environment, it’s also outperform the players that she’s competing against. And that would be players like Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman. It’s not easy to be a forward in the United States right now. Obviously it’s great but it’s not easy because the competition just got bigger and bigger.”
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