Christian Pulisic claims Gregg Berhalter should be considered for USMNT coach, despite Reyna scandal

Chelsea star Christian Pulisic insisted Gregg Berhalter should still be in the running for the USMNT head coach position as the search continues. 

The USA has been without a permanent coach since Berhalter’s contract was allowed to expire at the end of 2022 amid an investigation into a domestic violence incident from 1992 that involved him and his wife Rosalind.

B.J. Callaghan was named as USA head coach for the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments following the departure of interim boss Anthony Hudson last week. 

As the USMNT’s search for Berhalter’s long-term replacement continues, Captain American himself claimed he and his teammates believed their former coach should still be considered to return. 

‘I think [Berhalter] should be considered,’ Pulisic said. ‘I think he did a great job with the team. He brought us a long way. I think a lot of people and a lot of guys in the team especially would agree with that.’

Christian Pulisic insisted Gregg Berhalter should still be in the running for USMNT head coach

The USA has been without a permanent coach since Berhalter’s (pictured) contract expired 

B.J. Callaghan was named as USA head coach for the Nations League and Gold Cup

There is still no update on who will be Berhalter’s permanent successor. The 49-year-old has been out of work since his contract with US Soccer expired after the 2022 World Cup and the Gio Reyna scandal erupted.  

Berhalter was in the headlines when details about he and wife Rosalind’s private life were shared by former friends – and parents of USA player, Gio – Claudio and Danielle Reyna.

A wild few months of stunning rumors and bombshell developments began at the World Cup when Gio Reyna was almost sent home for his perceived lack of effort, leading to the release of shocking details and the start of a formal investigation.

Everything came to a head in March when the results of the investigation were released, with details about Reyna’s parents sending years of texts, emails and calls to US Soccer chiefs complaining about the treatment and playing time of their son in the international setup.

The investigation, ordered by US Soccer, was into a domestic violence incident involving him and his now-wife Rosalind in 1992.

Berhalter, who managed Hammarby in Sweden and MLS’s Columbus Crew before switching to international management, admitted to kicking his wife after she hit him in the face in an argument during a night out at a bar when they were 18, and the report deemed it an ‘isolated incident’, with ‘no evidence to suggest’ there were any further issues. 

The drama was thrust into the spotlight in the wake of the World Cup when it was revealed the Reynas had notified chiefs of the 1992 incident.

The report said that the Reyna parents spoke to then-US Soccer chief Earnie Stewart on the night of December 11, 2022 to disclose ‘information about Mr. Berhalter… that Mrs. Reyna had known for decades and… the information was disclosed at a time when it would be expected to discourage or otherwise influence the organization from offering a contract extension to Mr. Berhalter.’ 

US Soccer investigated an incident of domestic abuse between Berhalter and wife Rosalind 

Parents of USA player, Gio – Claudio and Danielle Reyna shared the details to US Soccer 

Gio Reyna was reportedly almost sent home from the World Cup for his perceived lack of effort

However, despite these actions, Alston & Bird’s report says they do not constitute blackmail or extortion.

Amid the managerial upheaval the US has faced in the months following the World Cup in Qatar, where they reached the Round of 16 before ultimately suffering a 3-1 defeat to Holland, Pulisic insisted he was used to dealing with change. 

‘I’ve had quite a few managers in my time, so I’ve dealt with change,’ Pulisic said. ‘I mean [Callaghan] especially he, he’s been a part of Gregg’s staff. We know him well. We know what he is all about. 

‘He’s not going to come in and try to change everything. He’s going to come in, give some new ideas, give input, and obviously make sure [to] run by everything with the team, with some of the leadership guys.

‘We’re going to have to be well prepared once the game comes around. It’s not something that any of us have never seen before, so we’re just going to give our best and help him along the way as he helps us and try to win some games.’

Pulisic played under three coaches at Chelsea last season after American owner Todd Boehly fire Thomas Tuchel early in the season, before poaching Brighton coach Graham Potter and firing him too, with Frank Lampard dragging the team to the end of the season as interim boss in dismal fashion.