Gio Reyna Shakes Off Blame for 2022 Controversy, Focused on World Cup Return
USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his training effort and family conflict with former coach Gregg Berhalter during the 2022 World Cup. The 22-year-old star deflected blame for his actions, claiming that the tensions were fueled by frustration over limited playing time.
Reyna's comments came after a tumultuous period in his career, marked by injuries, benching, and loan spells to Nottingham Forest. His last three years at Borussia Dortmund saw him used primarily as an impact substitute, further limiting his game time.
The drama surrounding Reyna's World Cup stint was largely overshadowed by allegations of domestic violence against Berhalter and his wife, who is reportedly a friend of Reyna's mother. The US Soccer Federation ultimately cleared the former coach of wrongdoing.
Reyna now seeks redemption at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he joined up with teammate Joe Scally. His primary goal is to convince new US coach Mauricio Pochettino that he still belongs on the national team squad. With a World Cup return in 2026 looming, Reyna sees this season as an opportunity to prove himself.
"I try to focus daily here, stay present here, work here every day, and hopefully believe everything will fall into place," Reyna said. "I think Pochettino was very clear: 'You need to play, perform, and then if you do that, you have a good chance to come in again.'"
Reyna's road to recovery is marked by a newfound sense of responsibility on both the field and off it. He has learned to manage his body and deal with the mental strain of setbacks, acknowledging that the first few days after an injury are always tough.
"I've learned a lot about my body," Reyna said. "The first 24 to 48 hours are always going to suck... You just have to get on with it, kick on, and attack the rehab."
With his back-to-back World Cup appearances at stake, Reyna is more determined than ever to make an impact for USMNT.
USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his training effort and family conflict with former coach Gregg Berhalter during the 2022 World Cup. The 22-year-old star deflected blame for his actions, claiming that the tensions were fueled by frustration over limited playing time.
Reyna's comments came after a tumultuous period in his career, marked by injuries, benching, and loan spells to Nottingham Forest. His last three years at Borussia Dortmund saw him used primarily as an impact substitute, further limiting his game time.
The drama surrounding Reyna's World Cup stint was largely overshadowed by allegations of domestic violence against Berhalter and his wife, who is reportedly a friend of Reyna's mother. The US Soccer Federation ultimately cleared the former coach of wrongdoing.
Reyna now seeks redemption at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he joined up with teammate Joe Scally. His primary goal is to convince new US coach Mauricio Pochettino that he still belongs on the national team squad. With a World Cup return in 2026 looming, Reyna sees this season as an opportunity to prove himself.
"I try to focus daily here, stay present here, work here every day, and hopefully believe everything will fall into place," Reyna said. "I think Pochettino was very clear: 'You need to play, perform, and then if you do that, you have a good chance to come in again.'"
Reyna's road to recovery is marked by a newfound sense of responsibility on both the field and off it. He has learned to manage his body and deal with the mental strain of setbacks, acknowledging that the first few days after an injury are always tough.
"I've learned a lot about my body," Reyna said. "The first 24 to 48 hours are always going to suck... You just have to get on with it, kick on, and attack the rehab."
With his back-to-back World Cup appearances at stake, Reyna is more determined than ever to make an impact for USMNT.
Gio Reyna's attitude change is a positive sign 
. Now he's taking responsibility for himself & his actions 
. I think it's great that he's focusing on daily improvement & staying present, rather than dwelling on the past 
. He needs to prove himself to Pochettino & the team, but with hard work & dedication, I'm sure he'll get another chance 
. Not sure what happened in 2022, but Gio seems like a great kid now 
. Glad to see him moving forward with his career 
he had a lot of drama last year and now ppl r expecting him 2 come back strong but what if he just cant get the playing time? 
he's trying hard on his own but coach Pochettino has 2 make some tough decisions too 
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this season is gonna b huge for him, especially w/ Pochettino at the helm, Gio needs 2 prove himself & show USMNT fans he's still got it 
I think this is so cool that Gio Reyna is taking responsibility for himself and focusing on what he can control - his own game! 
It's like, you can't change the past, but you can definitely shape your future with the way you react to it. And honestly, who wouldn't want to give new coach Mauricio Pochettino a chance? 
. He's been through a lot with injuries and limited playing time, which can't be easy on anyone, especially when you're young and trying to prove yourself. I get that his actions caused some tension with Berhalter, but let's not forget the bigger picture here - he was also a victim of circumstance 
. And now he's taking responsibility for himself and focusing on getting back on track 
Gio Reyna seems like a total turnaround guy - went from drama queen to super focused athlete 
. I'm rooting for Gio - let's see him crush it this season! 
. It's clear he's got a lot on his mind, what with his career being put on hold and personal drama to deal with. But now that he's at Borussia Mönchengladbach, I'm rooting for him to bounce back and make a name for himself (and the USMNT) 
It's time for Gio Reyna to put all the drama behind him and shine on the pitch 
. What about the drama surrounding his family and coach? That was a huge distraction during the World Cup, and it's weird that everyone's just moving on from that 
. Reyna's trying to redeem himself, but this whole thing just feels like a PR stunt 
I mean, he had a tough time with his playing time and stuff, but blaming it all on Gregg Berhalter and family conflicts doesn't really cover up what went down. And can we talk about how convenient it is that he's just "focusing" now and trying to prove himself for the World Cup? 
It sounds like he's trying way too hard to be all wholesome and likable at this point.
it's not easy to admit when we're not performing, but Gio seems to be doing just that. 
. He's got some serious growing up to do, though. I mean, come on, blaming frustration for family drama and coaching issues? That's not how it works, Gio! You can't just shift the blame around like that 
.