'Going to serve him well going forward' - USMNT icon Alexi Lalas praises Gio Reyna's resurgence at Monchengladbach despite difficult team start

Lalas highlighted the way Reyna has handled the move and his public comments as showing the right mentality. 

"Thank you, Gio, for a couple of things. No. 1, having the right attitude and saying the right things publicly,” Lalas said on his State of Union podcast. “That's exactly what if I'm Pochettino or any American fan out there, you want to hear in that there is a recognition that he is on the outside looking in, and there's also a recognition that he needed to do what was necessary to put himself back in contention.

“If he is playing and yes, if he is playing well, but I think because he's Gio Reyna, it's literally if he's playing. We know that he's playing for a team that is going to struggle this year, and they certainly struggled in the game [last weekend]. But that there was this American view of a positive of seeing Gio Reyna on the field, I think it shows how much faith people still have in Gio Reyna."

Lalas expressed that the widespread faith in Reyna's abilities remains justified based on these recent performances, even as Gladbach works through early-season challenges.

“Like I said, how much leash we are willing to give him because of his talent. But that humility in those comments, I think, is going to serve him well going forward,” Reyna explained. “And again, if he is not just playing, but being recognized in general as having a good game, even in crap results for a team, that bodes well for the future because this is not a very, very good team.

“I hesitate to use the word star, but at least make an impact. And I know we're kind of myopic and what we're looking at when it comes to Gladbach. This is again a wonderful thing. And I hope that he's, again, knock on wood, stays healthy and continues to start with the score.”

The 22-year-old midfielder's summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Mönchengladbach for approximately $7 million was designed specifically to provide the regular playing time needed to fulfill his considerable potential ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Reyna faces immediate challenges with Borussia Mönchengladbach's upcoming Bundesliga fixtures as they face Bayer Leverkusen on Sept. 20 followed by Eintracht Frankfurt on Sept. 26.