Gregg Berhalter's Confidence Unshaken Despite U.S. Team's Early Exit
As the U.S. men's national team faces the aftermath of a disappointing tournament, head coach Gregg Berhalter remains steadfast in his belief that he is the right person to steer the squad forward. The team’s recent performance has raised eyebrows, having been eliminated with just one win and finishing third in Group C with a meager three points.
While Uruguay dominated Group C with a perfect nine points, Panama clinched the second spot with six points, including a crucial 2-1 victory against the U.S. This defeat was particularly stinging, with the U.S. looking poised to secure a draw late into the match.
"Obviously, the loss against Panama really hurt. 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," Berhalter reflected. His analysis didn't stop there, as he delved into specific tactical shortcomings. "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."
Berhalter isn't new to the pressures of high expectations; he is now in his fifth year at the helm. Over this period, he has cultivated a squad that showcased its potential by incorporating several players who competed in the 2022 World Cup. Yet, for all the talent and experience, including three players aged 30 and older, the team's performance in the current tournament fell short of expectations.
The red card received by Timothy Weah in the 18th minute of the match against Panama undoubtedly compounded the team's struggles. Playing a man down for the majority of the game presented immense challenges, ultimately contributing to their undoing.
The U.S. Soccer Federation, recognizing the need for introspection, has announced a comprehensive review of the tournament. "We're going to do a review of the whole tournament and see where we fell short. 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," Berhalter emphasized.
Despite the recent setbacks, Berhalter remains vocal about the positives and the underlying potential within the squad. "When you see the effort tonight that we put in, it's incredible. 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."
He also shed light on the team's defensive capabilities and overall performance metrics. "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," Berhalter noted, emphasizing a forward-looking approach despite the recent disappointment.
Berhalter remains optimistic about the squad's depth and the number of players who have stepped up during the games. "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. In my opinion, 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," he candidly admitted.
When asked directly whether he believes he is still the right fit for the job, his response was succinct and resolute: "Yes." His conviction stands firm amidst the scrutiny, signaling his intent to continue leading the U.S. team through its challenges and into future successes.
However, the future of his tenure remains uncertain. When confronted with the prospect of his future being in the hands of others, Berhalter remarked, "That's not up to me."
As the team and its fans await the findings of the comprehensive review, the emphasis is on learning from the setbacks and building towards a more resilient and competitive future. The narrative now transitions from immediate disappointment to long-term preparation and growth, with Berhalter aiming to guide the squad towards their potential.