USMNT welcoming Reyna back into squad, says Ream
Tim Ream has claimed that the USMNT is welcoming Gio Reyna back with open arms. The defender spoke at length about the star attacker during a press conference on Tuesday. Reyna was recently reintroduced back into the USMNT squad by interim head coach Anthony Hudson. The midfielder is set to play his first games for the team since the World Cup.
Reyna’s family essentially started a feud with former head coach Gregg Berhalter during the World Cup in Qatar. Berhalter barely used Reyna during the competition. Then, Reyna’s family notified US Soccer of a domestic violence incident by Berhalter in 1992. The organization then conducted an investigation on the issue.
Center back says that it’s time to move on from situation
Nevertheless, Reyna is now back with the USMNT after not being selected in January. Ream told reporters on Tuesday that it is time to move on from the controversy. “The biggest thing is making sure that everybody knows we’re here for a reason and what’s happened with Gio in the past is in the past and what happened at the World Cup happened at the World Cup and we moved on from that as players,” proclaimed Ream.
“I think the biggest thing for us as a leadership and all the guys in camp is to see that he’s working hard, training hard, that he’s wanting to be here and up to this point, it’s been nothing but positive. Having conversations with different guys, everybody knows what he can bring to the table, everybody knows how talented he is.”
“And to see him come in here with that attitude and the work rate and the desire to be a part of the group and just get back on level terms with everyone without having to overly address it has been a big positive for all the guys to see.”
Reyna and Ream have talked to help ease back into USMNT
Ream also revealed that he has had personal conversations with Reyna on the issue. The defender, however, said that these talks will remain between the players. “I’ve had individual conversations with him. Those will stay between him and I because I think that’s important, to have that kind of line of communication and trust between players, between teammates, between groups.”
“What he’s feeling, what he’s seeing, what his worries may be will stay between him and I, because I think that’s important to allow him to move past everything that’s happened,” continued Ream. “And I think it’s important for all of us to be able to move past that and work together as a good team.”
Ream, Reyna, and the rest of the USMNT will travel to face Grenada on Friday, March 24. They will then host El Salvador three days later back in the States.
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