A statement from Gio Reyna
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 23, 2023
It took all of eight minutes for Gio Reyna to do what he never could do at the World Cup, and that's show why he is one of the mostly highly regarded young players the USA has ever produced.
He came on in the 70th minute of a wild Bundesliga match before 81,365 fans in Dortmund and gave Borussia Dortmund a 4-3 win over Augsburg with a golazo in the 78th minute.
Three times Dortmund went ahead and three times Augsburg tied the score before Reyna put Dortmund ahead for good when he lined up a bouncing ball and volleyed it with a right-footed shot into the top-left corner of the Augsburg goal.
Reyna celebrated by running to the corner kick in front of the famous yellow wall at Signal Iduna Park, putting his finger to his lips as if to ask for quiet and then putting both fingers in his ears to show he is not hearing all the noise around him.
The goal, Reyna's third of the Bundesliga season, came in his first competitive match since the World Cup, where his playing time was limited to eight minutes in the group stage and the second 45 minutes of the 3-1 loss to the Netherlands, and the revelations that followed, putting him and his parents at odds with his coach and their longtime friend, U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter.
Edin Terzic, who had been the interim coach in 2020-21 for Reyna's first full season with Dortmund's first team and returned as head coach this season, had spent much of the fall working with Reyna to build back up his fitness and boost his confidence after a series of serious injuries that kept him out of action much of the 2021-22 season with Dortmund and the USA.
Terzic praised Reyna for how he handled the swirling controversy that made the spat between Berhalter and the Reynas international news, saying "he's coped so much in the last couple of weeks."
Photo: Titgemeyer/Action Press via ZUMA Press/ISI Photos
"Shut Up and Dribble".!!!... Oh, HE DID.!!!
Too bad he was Told by his US Coach; that he was going to be "Limited" ... He was only a Sub today, but it will be Hard to keep him there, if he Scores Like That.!!!
Let me get this right. Berhalter limited his time. Terzic limited his time 2 months later. And you are critizing Berhalter?
Berhalter's unforgiveable and idiotic mistake was to air diry laundry in public. Up until that point, I think he handled Gio fairly (and his mother is the person who intruded and should be blamed for the distraction).
I think Berhalter does not merit a second cycle because - in general - I agree with no second cycle for a manager. And the idiocy of speaking at that HBR event about the Reyna noise was - as I said - unforgiveable.
That being said, Gio needs to shut up and play. For at least a year. If I am looking at buying a talented player, no way I risk tens of millions on him. The risk of him acting bigger than the team is too great. The fact that he was a distraction to his teammates is a HUGE problem. If he keeps his head down and plays, I would love him to rehabilitate his image. But no way is he worth Cody Gakpo money (which is what Transfermarkt has him valued at). Granted, a little younger so a little more projection. But until you can look past him apparently distracting his team mates right before the tournament.
Santi, as long as Reyna has been out, putting him on the field for the last 20 minutes is a standard move for a returning player. Caution is smart. You know it, and I know it. Nobody should be surprised that he didn't start.
As Ggg "Proved" at The End, Playing Reyna at the #10 was the Correct thing for the Team and the Player... The Fact that He Resisted doing it for 2 years, came back to Bite him in the Ã$$... And will Cost him the Position of Head Coach ... Peter Principle= You Rise to The Level of Your Incompetency ... Ggg was Not Competent to Coach USMNT ... Bottom Line.!!!
And Today the 25th; Gio does "Shut Up and Dribble,2.0".!!!
He had "Singlehandedly" gotten his Team (4) Points in the Last 2 Games... Just Wish he Could Play "A Limited" Role(sarc)
I hope he keeps this up for the next 15 years. He is making the best possible response to his critics. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Ditto that
Gio is signed until 6/25 at Dortmund. The question is how long should he stay and where does he go next? Pulisic got impatient and wanted England money, but that was poor career planning. Will Gio do the same?
Seriously, Pulisic had a great opportunity, since his transfer fee was very high, to make enough money to take care of his family and himself the rest of his life - and - he took it. It was not unwise. It was football - the business - professional football. When you get a chance to take your share of $80m xfer fee then take a Premier League wage package for a good number of years - you take it - or - you are a fool. Period. That Pulisic made the wrong move because he was impatient is just wrong. He just scored a golazo in the WC for USA, helped his team through to the group phase and is now back at it, still very young. I cannot give enough respect to the young man. Reyna on the other hand - this one is different. Have a nice day.
What does his mommy say?
Humble, your comments are practical, but what are the long-term implications for CP now? There are about 3 other clubs on the planet that would accept his wage demands going forward, so it's all good as long as he can stay at Chelsea for another 6 years? I would point to Haaland's path as more sensible: his 3rd transfer was to the EPL, once he was ready for it. Judging from CP injuries and lack of durability at the most physically stressful league in the world, I don't think it was unreasonable to bide his time AND BUILD MINUTES at another league first. In general, I don't believe Americans plan their career paths carefully ( Ethan Horvath being another example of taking the money first and hoping it all works out in the wash).
Ask his mother where he goes next!
It's not just an EPL problem. Look at Ricardo Pepi. Hottest form of his life and he chooses a Bundesliga team that needs him to score from Day 1 to stay up. At least he got a loan that helps him, but he's not controlled by a team that doesn't know him and doesn't care about him. He's a sunk cost to Augsburg, who will view him as maybe a lottery ticket (best case) or worst case - an insurance policy they can use if they need it. Big mistake to sign with them - looks like he got blinded by the biggest check.
Dortmund waited until yesterday to finally play him again in the first team! That's more than 7 weeks since the WC exit by the US! Maybe Berhalter sat the kid for a legit reason?!?! He wasn't trying to lose.
Seriously, you know the Bundesliga was on break "from the World Cup" until this past weekend when they resumed their season so your statement does not make any sense.
Bottom line is that Berhalter messed up with Gio, rather than saying "oh your time would be limited", just handle him as you would handle any other player....I am sure he didn't go to other players and said oh your time would be limited, why did he do that with Gio. Granted Gio's had past injuries and maybe that may have factored in GGG's thinking but prior to the WC, Dortmund used him regularly between League and Cup games without restriction, this is why fans were confused on why GGG would limit Gio's WC involvement. I guess only GGG knows or maybe a slight retaliation cos of his son's involvement with FC Dallas (where Gio's Dad is the GM or so there) not keeping him there, who knows.....just speculation
That was Dortmund's first game since the WC
Reyna didn't start in Dortmund's game. Was his Dortmund coach making a mistake not to start him? Was it a mistake to give Reyna "limited minutes" in that game.
Or maybe I should say
Reyna Didn't Start in Dortmund's game. Was his Dortmund Coach Making a Mistake not to Start Him? Was it a Mistake to give Reyna "Mimited Minutes" in that game?
Yeah, who needs a guy like that on our World Cup team? Who needs a scorer?
Wishing Gio all success in league play, just hope he and his toxic family never again contaminate the USMNT with their "soccer parent" darkness.
It is great to see Gio using exquisite technique in a pressure situation.
I wish Reyna would have produced like that in the limited minutes he had with the US at the WC. Instead he decided to sulk around and be a bad professional. No issues with him not being used, especially if his attitude sucked. He's been mostly a sub for Dortmund, I don't see why that should have changed with the US. Maybe, just maybe if he had a better attitude at training he would have seen the field more. You can clearly tell.from his reaction and his parents he was raised as an entitled kid and his attitude needs to get knocked down. Hopefully he turns it around but I'm not sure considering the support he has at home. Probably telling him he was right and no one can treat their precious baby like that. Makes me sick.
It is up to the coach to deal directly with player attitudes. Gio Reyna and Greg Berhalter share joint primary responsibility for the way it all unfolded at the World Cup. Neither was mature or professional in dealing with the issue. Soccer mom Reyna added to what became a soap opera, when she heard her baby Gio had been slighted.
The kid is a young player and they at times makes mistakes. Hopefully he shows that he can deal with all the outside pressure and come good in the end. His recent goal shows that he has character and a great future ahead of him. Not including this kid in the national team and building around him and some others would be a huge mistake. Our national team isn't blessed with great depth so when you get a gem you polish it, take care of it. Messig with this young man would be a huge mistake. Why would you tell a young kid he would see limited time before a ball has even been kicked? Cards, injuries, lack of form can happen during a duration tournament it's the coaches job to keep all the players ready to contribute. Obviously this didn't happen.
Actually, I do believe GB let everyone have a clue what role they would play unless there were injuries, or cards that came into play. Gio did like the message and seems to have behaved poorly. GB wants to win as bad as anyone and isn't going to sit his best player(not saying Gio is) without reason. If he starts a mopping player that's working half-assed at practice because he's not getting his way, what message does that send to the team? Every player knows the relationships between GB and the higher ups and Reynas. Si it would look like favoritism. Reyna had a duty to take the advice and prove the coach wrong at practice by truly busting his but. Not moping!
GB was wrong to talk about the issue so soon after the WC even if he thought it wouldn't be published. He admitted it. But what the parents did was totally out of line. Two wrongs don't equal right.
Let's move on. Enough with this soap opera.
He has shown flashes of brilliance, but let's do it consistently and over time. He has to earn it just like everybody else.
That he immediately went to deliver a 'shush' message - instead of thank Schlotterbeck for the world class long ball that Bellingham flicked on in a way that very few players could, winning a contested aerial, sending the ball exactly to where Reyna was literally trotting right into the path of the ball, and maybe thank also Augsburg for failing to put a body on him, in the box, so he had and uncontested wide open shot in the 18yd box. Well done. No doubt. To go beyond, you gotta do it over and over, all 90 minutes, like Shlotterbeck and Bellingham did today. Make it happen!
I always felt Berhalter was a poor hire and Stewart is responsible. We did not improve from his first day and thereafter. He lacked the gravitas and the players knew it. We HAD to find attacking, scoring abilities to advance and represent well. We didn't. We squeaked into the Cup and out of group. 3rd in CONCACAF. Where did our restart threat go. Why was CP allowed to serve crap balls all this time. Surely Gregg and staff could see this. Were they afraid to have someone else take them? Gravitas. Did staff feel that Weston and Yunas were magically become creative table setters or even finish chances. Not going to relive the atmosphere of the Coach with a pocket protector and a world class behind the back bounce pass. He had zero solutions, he was winging it. Me, I would have featured as much as possible Reyna as a #10. Another creator and unbalancer, not used at all was Torre. Wedded to his Mixed Martial Arts midfield did little to scare any of the teams we faced. USSF needs to make a decision on a new manager pronto and not wait so damn long like last time. But, the guy has to have real gravitas. Oh, Greg, "Be the change" you've always wanted to be and go community organize somewhere.
WS, I agree. I am not going to speculate about what GB did privately, but he plainly is not what we need in a national team coach, not even as an assistant.
I was so disappointed after the initial USSF pitch that he knew how to coach Dutch style soccer. His lack of ability was clear in the first few months. Reality is that he didn't even distinguish himself as an MLS coach.
Maybe he will be a better coach after this, but he should be done at the national team level. Blaming players for coaching problems doesn't cut it with me.
1+
This kids problem isn't his talent its his emotions. I say kid he isn't a kid he is a man. That is the one thing his parents failed to work on with him. He is a victim of the mine its all mine group. My way or the high way. You may not like the coach or what he says but he is the coach. I wish this guy good luck. Suggestion-quit acting like the star you aint.
IMHO, stay the course with GB,gag Gio's mother and let him grow up.
Your solution for a coach talking about the locker room is to gag someone else? Oh yeah, like that is going to stop criticism of USSF's coach. This is the USA. Our national pastime is berating authority figures.
I believe that most folks here are writing about an important,but secondary issue. If the story as reported is correct--a big IF--then the REynas should have used their close family ties with the Berhalters privately, and Gio should not have sulked. Anyone here knows of a sulking 20 years old American pro in any sport ?
NO. The real story is one that you can experience and find in many large organizations: A new boss/supervisor is brought into a competitive unit; it soon becomes obvious that this new boss is limited in his abilities and arrived due to favoritism; many employees believe that he is in over his head and don't know how to act,fearing over losing their jobs if they speak honestly,etc.etc.
I have been worried about GB as HC from early on: Our MNT played poorly even in their (mostly) home victories over "minnows". Along comes a young gifted player who has played with true international stars from many countries--Haaland was a close friend, as was Reus and Hummels--and this youngster cannot help but notice the limitations of the new boss.
I have been on teams where a limited coach played lesser players because they did not "Show him up" and were happy just to be playing. If you look around, you can see this quite a bit.
In fact, SA had a short piece of 3 US Soccer Hall-of-Famers who all said that GB should not ne extended. This has nothing to do with kicking a 18/19 year old in college(who became a good mother apparently). Can you think of any other country that would hire GB as HC ? Seriously?
Spot On Peter.!!!
Well said, Peter.