Man Management

Reyna’s lack of playtime was no longer an issue as the team had crashed out of the tournament. However, Berhalter decided to take an interview on the way back from the World Cup in which he indirectly called Reyna out. Berhalter said there was a player clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field. He had a conversation with the staff about sending the player home early, but ultimately decided to have a conversation with the player instead. The player was asked to apologize to the rest of the team and explain what he had done wrong. According to Berhalter, after apologizing the players stood up one by one and told him that he hadn’t been meeting their expectations, and wanted to see him change. Hours after the interview, The Athletic published a story detailing how Reyna had “shown an alarming lack of effort in training ahead of the US’s opening match.” None of this was public knowledge during the World Cup.

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Reyna responded on Instagram, upset the dispute had been made public. He stated that Berhalter told him before the tournament that he would have a limited role, which left him devastated. He let his emotions get the best of him and affect his training and behavior for a few days. He apologized to his teammates and coach for this, and was told he was forgiven. He then shook off his disappointment and gave everything he had on and off the field. He says he was disappointed there is continued coverage of the issue, and surprised that anyone on the USMNT’s staff would contribute to it, as Berhalter himself always said that issues within the team should be dealt with “in house.” Shortly after, everything happening behind the scenes comes to light.

In response to the coach’s comments about her son, Danielle Reyna spoke to US Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart about a past domestic violence incident involving Berhalter. She said in a statement that she felt it was unfair to Gio, who had apologized for his actions, to continue to be dragged through the mud when Gregg had “asked for and received forgiveness for doing something so much worse at the same age.” There were also reports that Claudio Reyna, Gio’s father, had been sending messages to USMNT general manager Brian McBride and Earnie Stewart during the World Cup complaining about his son’s lack of playing time, as well as threatening to share the allegations about Berhalter’s past. Claudio denied those allegations.