Ricardo Pepi still hung up on Gregg Berhalter after World Cup snub? USMNT star explains relationship with returning coach & his international colleagues at PSV

The 20-year-old striker, who is now on the books of Dutch giants PSV, did not take kindly to being informed that there was no place for him on the plane to Qatar last year. He was forced to watch on from afar as his international team-mates strutted their stuff in the Middle East – with Berhalter briefly walking away at the end of that tournament after seeing his contract come to a close.

Berhalter is now back for a second spell in charge of the United States, and he has called upon Pepi for friendly dates with Uzbekistan and Oman. Pepi has told the Offside with Taylor Twellman podcast when quizzed on potential friction between player and head coach: “I never really had a problem with Gregg. I feel like the interaction we’ve had, we had a phone call before this camp and he explained to me my role in the squad. It’s all a healthy relationship with him. It’s all normal. He asked me about PSV and the Champions League, it was a good conversation. I told him I’m ready to work for the team.”

Pepi is still finding his feet in Eindhoven, following a €10 million (£9m/$11m) transfer, but he does have a couple of familiar faces alongside in the form of Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman to help aid that adjustment. He said of being joined at PSV by two international colleagues: “It’s great to have two team-mates from the national team at club level. You always have that connection and I feel that translates to the national team. I now have a closer connection with Sergino and Malik ever since they joined PSV, so it just helps everyone all over the place.”

Pepi has already recorded his first goal for PSV, after hitting 13 on loan at Groningen last season, and feels better placed to thrive in European football following a tough transition to life in Germany at Augsburg. He said of the challenges he has faced since leaving FC Dallas in 2022: “It was just the intensity of the game. Coming from Major League Soccer to a league like the German league, which is very aggressive and physical and faster, that was the biggest difference. But then, not playing as well was difficult as you don’t get used to the rhythm of the game and the speed. I felt as soon as I made my move to Dutch soccer, I started getting minutes and getting used to the play – that came out well.”