Gregg Berhalter has ‘work to do’ on relationship with Gio Reyna

Gregg Berhalter and Gio Reyna will meet again – whether they like it or not.

Berhalter said there was “work to do” with Reyna, whose family sparked the drama that temporarily removed Berhalter from the leadership role at the end of 2022.

Berhalter, 49, was brought back as USMNT head coach this week after a winter and spring of controversy, and the coach said there is work to be done to mend the relationship between both.

“I would certainly recognize that there is work to be done, and Gio is an important player for this team,” Berhalter told the media, according to ESPN. “He’s an extremely talented individual, and I have an obligation and a commitment to train him like I train all the other players, and I want to get the best out of him.”

After the 2022 World Cup, Berhalter was at a leadership conference where he told how he was thinking of sending a player home for his bad behavior, and although it was not explicitly said, the player mentioned was probably Reyna .

The star midfielder’s playing time was reduced during the United States World Cup.

Reyna’s parents – former US national players Claudio and Danielle Reyna – later reported to the US Soccer Federation an incident 30 years prior in which Berhalter kicked his wife, Rosalind, during a argument while the two were freshmen at the University of North Carolina.

The organization launched an investigation and first appointed Anthony Hudson as interim head coach, then BJ Callaghan, while a decision regarding Berhalter’s future with the team was made.

The United States Soccer Federation conducted an investigation, and a report from a law firm determined that he had not improperly withheld information about the 1992 incident, clearing the way for Berhalter to regain his job.

Now back at the helm, Berhalter is looking to mend relationships and get the best out of all of his players — especially Reyna.

“We want to get the best out of him, and we know that if we can unleash his talents, he’s going to be a game-changer for this program. So there’s work to be done, and part of it is working with [sporting director] Mast [Crocker] and trying to rebuild a relationship that we know will be important moving forward,” Berhalter said, according to ESPN.

Berhalter will not coach at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, leaving Callaghan to finish his job.

Instead, Berhalter will lead his team to the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup.

In his first chapter as head coach from 2019-22, Berhalter and the USMNT won the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup trophies.

Berhalter’s 37-11-12 record holds the highest winning percentage of any USMNT coach.