Gio Reyna admitted on Thursday that news of his call-up to the US national team may have come as a surprise.
“I guess you could say it was sort of one of [Mauricio Pochettino’s] more difficult decisions, or I guess controversial decisions to maybe bring me in,” he told reporters in Atlanta, where the US national team has gathered ahead of friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. “Again, I can’t appreciate it enough. Love this team, love this staff, love this group of people. So just always honored to be here.”
Reyna has been largely invisible for Borussia Mönchengladbach, having made just 13 appearances this season, and only two since January, earning 26 minutes across those. But Reyna has been stuck in some manner of club purgatory much longer, ever since his ill-fated loan to Nottingham Forest in 2024. That move was meant to get him more playing time, yet delivered little of it for various reasons. Dortmund used him sporadically on his return and Mönchengladbach have used him only sparingly since early in the season.
Reyna’s fitness remains a concern, and is the main reason for many of his long spells off the field. Groin and thigh issues have popped up and recurred often. But there are lingering worries about his attitude – fairly or unfairly, Reyna has never fully shed the stigma he laid on himself in Qatar, where a perceived lack of effort in training led to fewer appearances than he and many US fans would have liked, eventually snowballing into one of the most dramatic off-field situations in the history of American soccer.
Pochettino does not seem particularly concerned with any of that. Though the Argentinian has repeatedly stressed the importance of his players getting regular minutes, he seems to be making an understandable exception in the case of Reyna. His faith in the midfielder has been rewarded: Reyna was excellent in the USMNT’s November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay, contributing a goal off the bench against the former and an assist as a starter in the latter.
“We really know he’s a very talented and very special player,” Pochettino said earlier this week. “To give the possibility, even if he’s not playing too much in his club, it can be very useful for us.”
Reyna was equally complimentary of Pochettino. “Me and Mauricio have a great relationship and we speak often,” said Reyna. “He keeps the vibes and energy in this group and this camp amazing. It’s always an honor to come back, understanding the club situation … At the same time, I feel prepared regardless of the playing time situation at the club. So if the chance comes up in the next few games, I have confidence in myself in the team that I can do extremely good things and make an impact to help.”
Barring a major setback, Reyna’s spot on Pochettino’s 26-man roster for this summer’s World Cup feels all but certain, given his repeated endorsement of the 23-year-old. How much he plays is less of a sure thing. Reyna was supplanted in the pecking order by Bayer Leverkusen attacker Malik Tillman long ago and seems most directly in competition with Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, who has emerged over the last year as another of Pochettino’s favorites. Luna, who is still recovering from an injury, was left out of Pochettino’s plans for this window.
Still, Reyna’s tone on Thursday was undeniably positive.
“I get a pretty good and confident feeling from the people here and the staff,” said Reyna. “They want me to be myself, enjoy my game and my playing. It’s simple. There’s guidelines that [Mauricio] wants me to stay in, within reason, but he gives a lot of freedom to the attacking players, and I think we really appreciate this, because most attackers enjoy freedom.”
