Pochettino frustrated by injured Richards’ World Cup status

Crystal Palace center-back Richards has 36 US caps and would likely be Pochettino’s first-choice at the heart of defense alongside captain Tim Ream, but Richards picked up an ankle injury last month.

The US will tune up against Germany in Chicago on Saturday without Richards, who was named in the tournament squad but could still be replaced under FIFA rules until 24 hours before the co-hosts’ opening game.

“Today, he’s training… but he’s still not ready to compete and to play,” Pochettino said Friday.

After the Germany game “we have the possibility in the next few days to assess him and see his ankle… and then to make a decision.”

Hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, the US opens its campaign in Los Angeles next Friday against Paraguay. Other group opponents include Australia and Turkey.

The US beat Senegal in a friendly last weekend, but a defense built around 38-year-old Ream and Toulouse center-back Mark McKenzie looked shakey, shipping two goals to Sadio Mane.

Richards has not played since Palace’s clash with Brentford on May 17. He was an unused substitute for Palace’s Europa Conference League final on May 27.

Pochettino voiced frustration about Richards’ recovery timeline, suggesting he may not have picked the player for his squad had he known the true status of his ankle.

“When we decided on the squad list, we thought Chris might play in the Conference League final,” said Pochettino, in Spanish.

“Based on the information we had, we believed he could play that final — and he was actually on the bench for it — and perhaps even be available against Senegal.

“In the end, the timelines dragged on a bit. It makes me a bit angry — I’m not happy about it — because we know Richards is an important player. We all know that.

“But regarding the information we were working with — sometimes there’s a lack of clarity.”

Pochettino suggested waiting for Richards to recover might prove detrimental to the squad, as “we’d end up with a player who hasn’t been competing, and then we’d have to decide if he’s fit enough to play.

“There isn’t much time at the World Cup.”