Pochettino Highlights Importance of Reyna and Berhalter for USMNT
Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team, praised Giovanni Reyna for his impactful performance in a 2-1 win over Paraguay at Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Reyna contributed one goal and one assist, causing significant problems for the Paraguay defense.
“His ability to read the game and find space between the lines was a nightmare for Paraguay. He executed his role effectively,” Pochettino stated after the match.
At 23 years old, this was Reyna’s first start for the USMNT since July 2024. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute, heading in a cross from Max Arfsten, marking his ninth goal in 33 international matches. Reyna also assisted on the winning goal in the 71st minute when his pass deflected off a Paraguay defender, allowing Folarin Balogun to score.
Reyna recently joined Borussia Mönchengladbach following a less than satisfactory exit from Borussia Dortmund. He is hoping to meet the high expectations placed upon him after struggling with injuries and inconsistent playing time. His last start for club or country prior to this match was on September 14, with only one other start since March 1. Pochettino commented on the necessity of Reyna earning more game time at the club level, especially with only three USMNT games left before selecting players for the 2026 World Cup.
“He scored and played very well. I’m pleased with him. He demonstrated why he was selected to start and proved he’s a player who needs to improve by getting more time on the field at his club,” Pochettino added.
Reyna expressed his satisfaction with the match, stating, “It was a perfect week. I’m just happy to be back with this team and to score was a great bonus for me.”
Despite a rocky start to Pochettino’s coaching stint, the USMNT remains unbeaten in its last four games, building momentum as they prepare to co-host the World Cup in seven months. However, Pochettino noted there’s room for further development.
<p"We created opportunities and performed well. We are a competitive team that's tough to beat, but we must keep pushing ourselves to improve as we approach the World Cup," he remarked.
Pochettino expressed disappointment about a scuffle that occurred during second-half stoppage time. Alex Freeman of the U.S. and Diego Gómez of Paraguay were engaged in a tussle over a ball that had gone out of play, which escalated with both team benches becoming involved. Omar Alderete of Paraguay, who was not playing, received a red card, while U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan was shown a yellow card.
“Such incidents can be very dangerous. We need to be cautious because things can escalate quickly,” Pochettino commented, stating his disapproval of the situation without knowing the specifics of how it began.
Pochettino and the USMNT will conclude this international window with a friendly match against Uruguay on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida.
Information sourced from The Associated Press was incorporated in this report.
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