About Pepi, kind of think ex-US player Ernie Stewart, who runs PSV came up with the ‘replacement’ excuse. PSV has a 17 point lead in the Eredivise and Pepi is out for another month+ anyways. What’s best for the player? Unless he hit the ground running he’d be 3rd choice striker, learning a new league, culture of London, which is not ideal with WC looming. He gets back at PSV and goes on scoring he’ll be on the roster. Ernie looking out for the kid and USMNT’s best interests had to come into play.