Reyna felt fortunate to…

ATLANTA — United States forward Giovanni Reyna expressed his gratitude for being included in the national team, especially after facing limited playing time with his club recently.

The 23-year-old Reyna, who competes for Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, aims to secure a spot on his second World Cup roster, having previously been part of the U.S. squad in 2022.

However, recent seasons have been challenging for Reyna due to injuries and inconsistent form. He began the current season with a promising streak of four consecutive starts before the winter break, but following a muscle injury at the start of the new year, his participation has dwindled. Since then, he has accumulated only 26 minutes of playtime over two matches, with his most recent appearance being on January 17 against Hamburg.

This lack of club activity has made Reyna’s selection for the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Portugal rather unexpected as the U.S. prepares for the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Mexico and Canada this summer.

“I think it’s easier when you’re consistently playing,” Reyna remarked during a Zoom call with reporters. “But whether or not I’m in the starting lineup, I’m grateful and honored to be trusted by the coach. If given the opportunity, I feel ready to make an impact on the field.”

In the previous international window, Reyna had a strong showing, netting the first goal in a 2-1 victory over Paraguay and assisting in the 5-1 win against Uruguay. Reyna appreciates the continued support from Pochettino, indicating that they share a positive relationship.

“It was definitely a tough call for him, but I’m incredibly grateful,” Reyna shared about Pochettino’s decision to include him. “I hold a deep admiration for this team and its staff, and I’m just honored to be here. At the same time, I feel ready, regardless of my club situation.”

“If the opportunity arises during the next two matches, I have confidence in my ability and in the team to make a positive impact.”

Reflecting on his experience from the 2022 World Cup, Reyna noted that he and his teammates have matured significantly since then. Despite a troubling incident during the tournament that almost resulted in his dismissal from the squad, he has moved past that moment. Reyna was honored as the MVP of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League.

“Being part of the team for the last four years, I’ve seen how each player has developed individually and collectively. I believe we’ve learned a lot from our last World Cup experience,” Reyna explained. “We hope to carry this growth into the upcoming tournament and perform even better this time around.”

The U.S. team will kick off its Group D campaign on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.