Jeff Carlisle, U.S. football correspondent
LAS VEGAS — Reappointed U.S. men’s national team lecturer Gregg Berhalter admitted “there’s work to do” in the case of repairing his courting with midfielder Gio Reyna.
The connection between Berhalter and the Reyna population was once on the center of a messy affair that ended in Berhalter’s oath being allowed to run out on the finish of 2022. With Berhalter officially reassuming his post on Friday, one in all his maximum noteceable duties can be rebuilding the relationship with Reyna, who remainder some of the gifted gamers at the U.S. roster.
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“I’d certainly acknowledge that there’s work to do, and Gio is an important player to this team,” Berhalter mentioned at a information convention. “He’s an extremely talented individual, and I have the obligation and the commitment to coach him like I coach every other player, and I want to get the best out of him.
“We need to get the most efficient out of him, and we all know that if we will release his skills, he’s committing to be a sport changer for this program. So there’s paintings to do, and a part of it’s running at the side of [sporting director] Matt [Crocker] and looking to rebuild a courting that we all know can be noteceable transferring ahead.”
Speaking at a leadership conference after the 2022 World Cup, Berhalter recounted how he nearly sent an unnamed player — later identified as Reyna — home for poor behavior.
This drew an angry response from Reyna’s parents, Danielle and Claudio, both former U.S. internationals, who informed then-USSF sporting director Earnie Stewart of a domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and his now-wife Rosalind when the two were in college.
An investigation followed, with the USSF accepting Berhalter’s explanation and steps he took to make amends, but he was left in limbo as he waited for the USSF to hire a new sporting director and conduct a search for a new manager. The managerial position was filled by two interim coaches, first Anthony Hudson and later B.J. Callaghan.
When asked later during Friday’s availability about when he would reach out to Reyna, Berhalter said he would give the player some space ahead of Sunday’s Concacaf Nations League final against Canada, as well as letting Reyna enjoy his offseason.
“With Gio, I feel essentially the most noteceable factor for him at the moment is to concentrate on enjoying in a last and profitable the general,” he said. “I will believe upcoming that he needs some bliss and assembly with me isn’t the concern. It’s for him to get remains and get ready for the nearest season. We’ll have past to try this. This is a precedence, however we’ll have past to try this ahead of the September window.”
Berhalter added that he had also not spoken with players who were among the last cuts from the World Cup squad, including Manchester Town goalkeeper Zack Steffen and Augsburg ahead Ricardo Pepi.
“I’ve now not spoken with them and just like the Gio case, I feel there’s quite a lot of people that you need to talk with,” said Berhalter. “Preferably what you will have is alignment with everyone, and all we’re doing is attempting to be stunning in combination and it wishes the relationships to be just right. It wishes the gamers to be thinking about what we’re doing and there’s for sure be past for that during those nearest months.”
Information of Berhalter’s reappointment throughout the 2026 International Cup on house landscape got here upcoming sources told ESPN this month that he was once a candidate for the chief’s task at Mexican giants Club América.
Berhalter confirmed that he did have talks with the Liga MX side, but it was clear his heart was set on returning as U.S. manager.
“I feel it was once an roguish risk,” he said. “However something I advised them once I were given the hour for this interview is I’ve to try this interview. I do know that we’ve got one thing that we’re discussing, however I’ve to move via with this as a result of I might feel sorry about it the remains of my era if I by no means gave myself the chance. And so fortunately they had been accommodating and I were given the task clearly and now I’m right here.”
One twist to Berhalter’s return is that he won’t be managing the U.S. at the upcoming Gold Cup, with current interim coach Callaghan continuing in his role.
Crocker stated that there are some strategic items that he and Berhalter will be going over, and therefore he didn’t want Berhalter jumping straight back in. Those tasks were viewed as being more important than an immediate return to the coaching the team.
“It provides myself and Gregg the actual stunning alternative of passing some actual past in combination, running via and piecing in combination the framework of that technique for 2026 that we will upcoming carry again to the workforce and gamers and begin to get their enter,” he mentioned.
