USA players WANT Reyna to start at the World Cup but he’s FALLEN OUT with Berhalter, Wynalda says

Former USMNT striker Eric Wynalda has claimed there is a ‘gap’ between Gio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter after the US coach initially suggested injury was the reason he did not play against Wales.

Reyna didn’t fare much better against England, entering the game in the 83rd minute, and Wynalda claimed before that game that his absence from the XI has caused problems even in the American camp.

“With Gio Reyna now out of the line-up, which has been a huge controversy within the team, even his own teammates want him on the pitch and it seems to be an internal battle with the manager Gregg Berhalter,” he said in a statement . Twitter spaces with the LA times.

Eric Wynalda participates in FOX’s Champions League TV coverage in 2015

‘I don’t know how much to comment on that, but I’ve tried to comfort Gio’s father [and former USMNT teammate] Claudio for the last few hours, and well, the last few days with anything and everything.

“He was fit to play, Berhalter lied to the media saying it was an injury, he asked the player to go along with that story which caused a rift between them. And now he’s on the bench, which is a shame, this situation should have been handled very differently.’

While Berhalter said a ‘last-minute check’ was done on the oft-injured Reyna ahead of the 1-1 draw with Wales, the winger said he felt ‘really good’ after the match.

Berhalter later clarified that Reyna’s absence against Wales was a ‘coach’s decision’ and that he was available for the match.

Wynalda, who has held several coaching jobs, also criticized the US boss more generally.

He called Berhalter “extremely rigid” and bemoaned the USMNT’s lack of use of different systems in recent years.

“My frustration with Gregg Berhalter is that he has implemented a system and he is very demanding within that system,” he said. “You have to play the way he wants you to play, otherwise you won’t play at all.”

To Berhalter’s credit, he surprised the Three Lions by employing a 4-4-2 formation that upset the pre-game favorites.

Wynalda last coached the Las Vegas Lights of the 2018-20 USL Championship.

But despite the impressive result of the US vs. England, it doesn’t look like Wynalda will be fully convinced by Berhalter anytime soon.

“It’s not really about teaching them how to play… it’s not about the player profile the manager wants,” he said before the game.

“It’s the player profile that you get, and then you have to figure out a way to put that puzzle together. And that’s what he really struggles with, that’s just not something he seems to understand.”