There is no extra pressure on Gio Reyna to star for USMNT despite the issues he has had with Nottingham Forest this season, boss Gregg Berhalter says.
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U.S. announce June roster for friendliesReyna struggling for minutes at ForestBerhalter denies player is under pressureWHAT HAPPENED?
The U.S. announced their roster for a pair of June friendlies in a warmup for this summer's Copa America, and Gio Reyna made the cut despite very few minutes at the club level of late.
USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter insisted the youngster has his trust, and that he believes Reyna has little to "no added pressure" to shine his country on the international stage.
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Reyna had an up-and-down 2023-24 season, struggling for minutes at his parent club Borussia Dortmund before being sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest where he was unable to break into the starting XI again.
Reyna played just 230 Premier League minutes over the second half of the season, but stunned on the international stage in March in the CONCACAF Nations League. The 21-year-old won the Golden Ball of the tournament for the USMNT.
Now, though, heading into Copa America out of form, Berhalter isn't worried.
WHAT BERHALTER SAID
"I don't think there's any added pressure for Gio. All he has to do is continue to do what he's been doing with our team," the coach said. "He's performed extremely well over these last nine months and showing that he can be an important part of this team. If you look at the impact in the Nations League, it was really good and we're expecting something similar in the summer. Our job as coaches is to put him in the best possible position to perform at a high level and we'll use the training camp and the friendly games to prepare the entire team. We're using the friendly games and the tournament as a measuring stick of what we can achieve together."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REYNA?
Reyna's horror loan with Forest has officially ended and the young midfielder can now turn his attention to representing the USMNT this summer on the international stage. He will have a small break before reporting for camp for two June friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.