‘Always going to be baggage’ – Gio Reyna & Gregg Berhalter warning for USMNT as Alexi Lalas reacts to ‘fig leaf’ offering between former foes

The pair butted heads before and after the 2022 World Cup, with their feud getting personal at one stage as Reyna’s family got involved. Questions were asked of whether the duo could work together again after Berhalter was reappointed as USMNT boss.

He has called upon Reyna since picking up the reins and handed him a starting berth in a friendly date with Germany. Lalas has told his State of the Union podcast of whether an unfortunate saga can be considered closed: “I think Gregg Berhalter kind of put out a fig leaf if you will and said: 'Yeah, not only do I believe in you, but I believe in starting you against Germany’. I think that Gio after that first half doesn't look worse for wear - as a matter of fact I think looks better. And maybe people are even more confident. And I think Gregg kind of gets to assume the position of letting bygones be bygones and going forward.

"Now, don't think for a second that there isn't always going to be baggage and history relative to these two. But what you hope is that it dissipates enough where they can go on and they can function in these types of settings.”

Berhalter has been trying to sweep the issue under the carpet, with the United States coach telling reporters when inevitably asked about a supposed divide in the camp: “I know that's going to be on people's mind. What I'd say is that we're moving forward. [I don't] really want to talk too much about the past. I think it's about talking about the future.”

The United States suffered a 3-1 defeat against Germany – despite seeing Christian Pulisic open the scoring in spectacular style – and will be back in action on Tuesday when taking on Ghana.