Gregg Berhalter revealed some of the reasons why Gio Reyna saw limited playing time at the 2022 World Cup. In fact, the head coach of the US Men’s National Team says he almost sent off the 20-year-old of the team.
It is important to know that Berhalter did not explicitly mention Gio Reyna. Speaking at the Summit on Moral Leadership at the HOW Institute for Society, Berhalter answered a question about dealing with difficult performance-related decisions.
“In this last World Cup, we had a player who clearly didn’t live up to expectations on and off the pitch,” Berhalter said. “One of 26 players, so he stood out.”
Berhalter later said that the coaches deliberated for hours about what to do with this player. He added that the coaches were “ready to book a plane ticket home” for the player. However, the coaches had a conversation with this person, and he sincerely apologized to the team. In addition, the team accepted the player’s challenges and behavior, saying that he “hasn’t been good enough,” according to Berhalter.
Throughout his response to the question at hand, Berhalter was careful not to name the player. However, the indication and belief in the entire USMNT community is that it is Gio Reyna.
Gio Reyna snubbed from playing in the World Cup
Reyna is clearly a talent with important goals for both club and country. Still, he only saw the field for a total of 52 minutes in four games at the World Cup. There were injury concerns, yes. However, rumors arose about the player’s lack of effort in training. The same goes for a pre-tournament friendly against Al-Gharafa, according to The Athletic.
After not playing against Wales on the first day of the World Cup, Berhalter said that Reyna did not play due to a “hamstring strain”. However, the player himself said that he was fine after playing six weeks earlier with Borussia Dortmund.
Berhalter creates controversy with statements by Gio Reyna
While Berhalter’s lack of communication about Reyna was perhaps due to protecting the player’s goodwill, the coach’s most recent comments seem more out of place.
In addition, US Soccer, which has to make a decision on Berhalter’s future as national team coach, disapproved. US Soccer said the comments to Charter Works were meant to be, regardless of whether or not the coach used Reyna’s name.
Reyna’s agent then added his take on the development. Dan Segal called Berhalter’s comments disappointing and disrespectful.
Berhalter and Reyna have yet to comment on the situation as it has occurred. However, Berhalter’s contract with US Soccer was extended through the 2022 World Cup.
PHOTO: IMAGO/ANP
