'Important player in the past' - Mauricio Pochettino say Nations League call-up for Gio Reyna about evaluation, with hopes to 'recover' the USMNT midfielder

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino emphasized that Gio Reyna remains an important player for the squad, but acknowledged that the 22-year-old is still being evaluated by the coaching staff.

Speaking to the media ahead of the U.S. men's national team's third-place match against Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League, Pochettino noted that he had not yet worked with Reyna before this camp, as the midfielder was an unused substitute in the semifinal loss to Panama.

The Argentine admitted there was a plan to sub in the Dortmund midfielder if the match against Panama had gone to extra time. However, after conceding a stoppage-time winner to the Canal Boys, Reyna remained unused. Ahead of the third-place match against Canada, Pochettino hopes to finally hand him his first competitive minutes of the camp.

"He’s not playing much at his club, and for us, it was a great opportunity to have an experience with him. Because in June, if he is still at Dortmund, he is going to be involved in the Club World Cup and is not going to have the possibility [to play for the U.S. at the Gold Cup]" Pochettino said. "That is why, I think, for us, with not too much time to work and to get to know the player, I think it was a great opportunity. That doesn't mean that he's ready to play in the way that we expect for him to perform, but I hope that tomorrow he has some minutes."

Reyna missed both the October and November camps due to injury, making this March roster his first real exposure to Pochettino's leadership with the national team. Given that reality, expectations for his involvement across both matches in this camp were always tempered - something Pochettino acknowledged.

"The most important thing is how he's showing in every single training session and spending time with us, because I think maybe he’s not at his best. But he’s here for us to try to get to know him and, from there, to help him arrive at his best. That is the reality," Pochettino said. "I am so honest and what I think I see is this important player, who was also an important player in the past. I think it's a player we need to recover and put to the same level as the rest of the players to have the possibility to compete in the World Cup."

Reyna, who won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2024 Nations League, has struggled for regular minutes at the club level this season with Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund are set to play at the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. this summer, and with it being a FIFA-sanctioned tournament, Reyna will not be released to the national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The same goes for both Tim Weah and Weston McKennie with Juventus, and any Americans on Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders or any other clubs in the competition.

Asked if the U.S. will make an attempt to try and negotiate the release of anyone participating in the competition, Pochettino shrugged, saying it's not an option, at least for now.

"No, at the moment we are not discussing about that... We never know about the future of the player. At the moment, we will pay attention in the next months to see what is going on and [determine] if that is a possibility or not," he said. "But even if it's not possible, I think that opens the chance for another player to be here."

Barring the unforeseen, it means the U.S. will only have Reyna available for this Nations League camp - and potentially - the FIFA international window in early June until the 2025-26 club season begins.

Reyna has played just 322 minutes of regular season action for BVB in the 2024-25 season, starting three matches and making 14 total appearances where he has scored two goals and recorded zero assists.

The U.S. clash with Canada on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET for a chance at third-place honors in the competition. It will serve as another chance for Reyna to get minutes with the U.S. this camp, but more importantly, an opportunity for Pochettino to get an important win under his belt against the likes of Les Rouges and manager Jesse Marsch.

GOAL's Ryan Tolmich contributed reporting from Carson, Calif.