Christian Pulisic Claims Gregg Berhalter Should Be Eligible For USMNT Coach Despite Reyna Scandal

Chelsea star Christian Pulisic insisted that Gregg Berhalter should still be in the running for the USMNT head coaching position as the search continues.

The U.S. has been without a permanent coach since Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 following an investigation into a 1992 domestic violence incident involving him and his wife Rosalind.

BJ Callaghan was appointed as US head coach for the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments following the departure of interim boss Anthony Hudson last week.

As the USMNT’s search for Berhalter’s long-term replacement continues, Captain American himself claimed that he and his teammates believed their former coach should still be considered for return.

‘I think [Berhalter] should be considered,” Pulisic said. “I think he’s done a great job with the team. He has taken us far. I think a lot of people and especially a lot of guys in the team would agree.’

The US has been without a permanent coach since Berhalter’s contract (pictured) expired

BJ Callaghan was named head coach of the USA for the Nations League and Gold Cup

There is still no update on who will be Berhalter’s permanent successor. The 49-year-old has been out of work since his contract with US Soccer expired after the 2022 World Cup and the Gio Reyna scandal broke.

Berhalter made headlines when details about his and his wife Rosalind’s private lives were shared by former friends – and parents of American player Gio – Claudio and Danielle Reyna.

A wild few months of stunning rumors and explosive developments began during the World Cup when Gio Reyna was almost sent home for his alleged lack of effort, leading to the release of shocking details and the start of a formal investigation.

Everything came to a head in March when the results of the investigation were released, detailing Reyna’s parents who spent years texting, emailing and calling U.S. football chiefs complaining about their son’s treatment and playing time in the international lineup .

The investigation, commissioned by US Soccer, related to a domestic violence incident involving him and his now-wife Rosalind in 1992.

Berhalter, who managed Sweden’s Hammarby and MLS’s Columbus Crew before moving into international management, admitted to kicking his wife after she punched him in the face during an argument during a night out at a bar when they were 18. ‘isolated incident’, with ‘no evidence to suggest’ that there were other problems.

The drama was thrust into the spotlight in the aftermath of the World Cup when it was revealed that the Reynas had notified leaders of the 1992 incident.

The report said that on the night of December 11, 2022, Reyna’s parents spoke to then-U.S. soccer chief Earnie Stewart to “disclose information about Mr. Berhalter…which Ms. Reyna had known for decades and…the information was public made at a time when it was expected to discourage or otherwise influence the organization from offering Mr. Berhalter a contract extension.”

US Soccer investigated an incident of domestic violence between Berhalter and his wife Rosalind

Parents of the American player, Gio – Claudio and Danielle Reyna shared the details with US Soccer

Gio Reyna was reportedly nearly sent home from the World Cup due to his perceived lack of effort

However, despite these actions, Alston & Bird’s report states that they do not constitute blackmail or extortion.

Amid the administrative turmoil the US faced in the months following the World Cup in Qatar, where they reached the round of 16 before finally suffering a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands, Pulisic insisted he was used to dealing with change. to go.

“I’ve had quite a few managers in my time, so I’ve had to deal with changes,” Pulisic said. ‘I mean [Callaghan] especially him, he’s part of Gregg’s staff. We know him well. We know what he’s talking about.

“He doesn’t come in and try to change everything. He comes in, gives some new ideas, gives input and of course takes care of it [to] run through everything with the team, with some leaders.

“We will have to be well prepared once the game comes. It’s not something that any of us have never seen before, so we’re just going to do our best and help him along the way he helps us and try to win some games.”

Pulisic played under three coaches at Chelsea last season after American owner Todd Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel early in the season, before poaching and sacking Brighton coach Graham Potter as Frank Lampard dragged the team to the end of the season as an interim boss in gloomy fashion.