Gregg Berhalter Defends Role Amid Tournament Setback
U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter remains steadfast in his belief that he is the right person to guide the squad forward, despite a disappointing performance in the recent tournament. The U.S. team was eliminated with just one win, finishing third in Group C with three points, trailing behind Uruguay and Panama.
Uruguay led the group with a flawless nine points, while Panama secured the second spot with six points. A crucial 2-1 victory by Panama over the U.S. dashed any hopes of advancement for Berhalter’s team. The match was marred by an early setback when Timothy Weah received a red card in the 18th minute, putting the U.S. at a significant disadvantage.
Reflecting on the tournament, Berhalter acknowledged the disappointment but maintained his confidence. "Yes," he affirmed when asked if he remains the right fit for the job. His response encapsulated a broader perspective on the recent matches and what lies ahead.
"Obviously, the loss against Panama really hurt," Berhalter admitted. "I think when you talk about being, 80th minute, in a good position to get a draw and get something out of the game, we didn't get it." The coach pointed out specific moments that exposed the team’s vulnerabilities, "When you look at that moment specifically, there's some issues there. I think in that game in particular, a low block defending needed to improve in that moment."
In response to the setbacks, the U.S. Soccer Federation has announced a comprehensive review of the tournament. This review aims to dissect where the team fell short and how to address the narrow margins that differentiated success from failure. "We're going to do a review of the whole tournament and see where we fell short," Berhalter said. "The margins are so small and there's very little separating any of these teams and you have to treat every game as the same."
Despite the challenges, Berhalter praised the players' efforts, emphasizing the high standards needed for future success. "When you see the effort tonight that we put in, it's incredible," he said. "The guys did a great job. They worked extremely hard, put in a great effort against a really good team but that needs to be the standard every time we step onto the field."
Analyzing the team's defensive capabilities, Berhalter highlighted the strengths of the squad. "Defensively, we're a very good team. Most games, we have higher expected goals than the opponent. We create chances, we move the ball well. To me, the whole thing is, you want to keep moving the team forward and I feel like we have," he explained. His remarks underscored the belief that the foundation of the team’s play remains sound, even if the results were lacking.
Speaking about the depth of the squad, Berhalter acknowledged the contributions and growth of various players. "You think about the depth of the squad, the number of players that have played in games, so there's certainly improvement and we need to keep going," he stated. In his view, the program is far from being in a dire situation, despite recent results. "It's not something you say, 'Okay, this program's doomed.' It's not the case at all. It was a poor performance, we didn't get the results we expected and we need to get better."
As Berhalter enters his fifth year as head coach, his focus remains on building a resilient and competitive team. The U.S. team's Copa America roster featured a significant cohort from the 2022 World Cup, showcasing a blend of experience with players aged 30 and older. This mix aims to provide the necessary leadership and expertise as the team looks to rebound from recent disappointments.
Ultimately, the direction of the U.S. men's national team rests on a multitude of factors, including internal reviews and external evaluations. Berhalter’s conviction in his methodology and the squad’s potential continues to drive him forward. As he succinctly put it, "That's not up to me," signaling that while decisions about his future may loom, his dedication to the team's progress remains unwavering.