2 months ago
Gio Reyna admitted connected Thursday that news of his call-up to nan US nationalist squad whitethorn person travel arsenic a surprise.
“I conjecture you could opportunity it was benignant of 1 of [Mauricio Pochettino’s] much difficult decisions, aliases I conjecture arguable decisions to possibly bring maine in,” he told reporters successful Atlanta, wherever nan US nationalist squad has gathered up of friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. “Again, I can’t admit it enough. Love this team, emotion this staff, emotion this group of people. So conscionable ever honored to beryllium here.”
Reyna has been mostly invisible for Borussia Mönchengladbach, having made conscionable 13 appearances this season, and only 2 since January, earning 26 minutes crossed those. But Reyna has been stuck successful immoderate mode of nine purgatory overmuch longer, ever since his ill-fated indebtedness to Nottingham Forest successful 2024. That move was meant to get him much playing time, yet delivered small of it for various reasons. Dortmund utilized him sporadically connected his return and Mönchengladbach person utilized him only sparingly since early successful nan season.
Reyna’s fittingness remains a concern, and is nan main logic for galore of his agelong spells disconnected nan field. Groin and thigh issues person popped up and recurred often. But location are lingering worries astir his cognition – reasonably aliases unfairly, Reyna has ne'er afloat shed nan stigma he laid connected himself successful Qatar, wherever a perceived deficiency of effort successful training led to less appearances than he and galore US fans would person liked, yet snowballing into one of nan astir melodramatic off-field situations successful nan history of American soccer.
Pochettino does not look peculiarly concerned pinch immoderate of that. Though nan Argentinian has many times stressed nan value of his players getting regular minutes, he seems to beryllium making an understandable objection successful nan lawsuit of Reyna. His religion successful nan midfielder has been rewarded: Reyna was fantabulous successful nan USMNT’s November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay, contributing a extremity disconnected nan chair against nan erstwhile and an assistance arsenic a starter successful nan latter.
“We really cognize he’s a very talented and very typical player,” Pochettino said earlier this week. “To springiness nan possibility, moreover if he’s not playing excessively overmuch successful his club, it tin beryllium very useful for us.”
Reyna was arsenic complimentary of Pochettino. “Me and Mauricio person a awesome narration and we speak often,” said Reyna. “He keeps nan vibes and power successful this group and this campy amazing. It’s ever an grant to travel back, knowing nan nine business … At nan aforesaid time, I consciousness prepared sloppy of nan playing clip business astatine nan club. So if nan chance comes up successful nan adjacent fewer games, I person assurance successful myself successful nan squad that I tin do highly bully things and make an effect to help.”
Barring a awesome setback, Reyna’s spot connected Pochettino’s 26-man roster for this summer’s World Cup feels each but certain, fixed his repeated endorsement of nan 23-year-old. How overmuch he plays is little of a judge thing. Reyna was supplanted successful nan pecking bid by Bayer Leverkusen attacker Malik Tillman agelong agone and seems astir straight successful title pinch Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, who has emerged complete nan past twelvemonth arsenic different of Pochettino’s favorites. Luna, who is still recovering from an injury, was near retired of Pochettino’s plans for this window.
Still, Reyna’s reside connected Thursday was undeniably positive.
“I get a beautiful bully and assured emotion from nan group present and nan staff,” said Reyna. “They want maine to beryllium myself, bask my crippled and my playing. It’s simple. There’s guidelines that [Mauricio] wants maine to enactment in, wrong reason, but he gives a batch of state to nan attacking players, and I deliberation we really admit this, because astir attackers bask freedom.”
