Between visa holdups, health points and a scary dehydration episode, James Rodriguez has hardly ever performed for Minnesota United.
But when he stepped onto the sector final Sunday, his class was apparent.
Rodriguez supplied each assists in a 2-2 draw in opposition to Austin FC. And as he departed Minnesota for Colombia nationwide staff coaching camp solely a handful of days later, he had confirmed he nonetheless possesses the elite ball-striking capability to make a distinction at this summer time’s World Cup.
It’s a disgrace American Gio Reyna by no means gave himself the identical likelihood.
Reyna isn’t almost as well-known as Rodriguez, who has suited up for membership superpowers like Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich, received a World Cup Golden Boot and a Copa America Golden Ball.
However the two are related on this regard: Each are technically gifted, athletically restricted males who’re most harmful because the gravitational middle of a staff’s assault.
And if Reyna had actually needed a membership surroundings the place he might show he might be that man for United States males’s nationwide staff supervisor Mauricio Pochettino, an MLS stint would’ve made much more sense than coming off the bench for an additional Bundesliga season at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Reyna’s on-the-ball skills are uncommon sufficient in MLS {that a} staff might’ve orchestrated their total assault round him had they swooped in when he lastly departed Borussia Dortmund nearly a 12 months in the past.
There’s additionally no scarcity of present MLS managers who’ve helped coach him in his earlier USMNT stints. They embody 2022 World Cup boss Gregg Berhalter, who’s now on the Chicago Fireplace, and three of his former assistants; Nashville’s BJ Callaghan, Austin’s Nico Estevez and San Diego’s Mikey Varas.
The closed MLS league construction additionally would’ve made taking that likelihood on Reyna a far much less dangerous proposition. The worst that would’ve occurred? A staff tries Reyna out, he sputters offensively and his defensive vulnerabilities are uncovered, and the staff both modifications course after the World Cup or endures a nasty season.
At Monchengladbach, the draw back of going all in on Reyna was way more dire, i.e. the prospect of relegation from the German high flight. That they have been preventing the drop for many of the season just about assured Reyna could be a task participant slightly than a starring man. He entered the ultimate matchday of the Bundesliga season having performed solely 496 minutes in 18 appearances
Reyna’s remarks earlier this week prompt even he wasn’t assured he had accomplished sufficient to warrant inclusion on Pochettino’s ultimate 26-man squad.
Pochettino little doubt is aware of Reyna can do issues with the ball that few — if any — People can. However he ought to solely pull the set off if he believes Reyna is able to a real No. 10 position. Reyna’s limitations off the ball are too nice to be well worth the tradeoff except the plan is to provide him possession as usually as attainable.
A season or so on the MLS degree would’ve been a extra becoming stage for Reyna to reply that query. As an alternative, heading into an important World Cup in U.S. Soccer historical past, it’s anybody’s guess.
