With only twelve minutes plus stoppage time remaining in Borussia Dortmund’s recent Club World Cup group stage match against South Korea`s Ulsan HD, coach Niko Kovac indicated the job was done. Dortmund held a comfortable 1-0 lead, securing the top spot in Group F. As key starters were subbed out to rest before the next round against Monterrey, fresh players entered, including Carney Chukwuemeka and Gio Reyna.
For Reyna, these twelve minutes were his first in the Club World Cup and his longest appearance for Dortmund since a 26-minute spell on April 15 during a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal loss to Barcelona. It was a brief cameo that offered little chance to make an impression, a point Kovac touched upon post-match.
Kovac noted that both Reyna and Julien Duranville were getting their initial minutes in the tournament, part of an effort to provide playing time to all squad members. He explained that while the first half performance was top-level, the midfield faces high competition. Despite acknowledging Reyna`s good qualities, Kovac stated that other players were currently “a little bit more ahead.”
Kovac’s frank assessment highlights a recent trend in the 22-year-old Reyna`s career. Five years after his breakthrough with Dortmund and the U.S. men`s national team, there’s a sense of stagnation regarding his development as a professional. While glimpses of his talent as an attacking midfielder are evident, he hasn`t accumulated the consistent body of work needed to definitively prove or disprove his potential. This pattern has mirrored the national team’s recent phase, which, even with a coaching change, felt stuck in a rut – that is, until now.
The Summer of Malik Tillman
One major outcome of Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to use a less experienced squad for the Gold Cup this summer has been the significant rise of Malik Tillman.
Tillman, aged 23, isn`t entirely new to the national team setup, having earned his first cap three years ago and establishing himself at PSV Eindhoven, the back-to-back Eredivisie champions. Goal contributions are a key part of his game, with 25 goals and 17 assists across all competitions for the Dutch club over the past two seasons. He also possesses versatility, capable of performing various attacking midfield roles, from being active in the penalty area to progressing the ball forward.
Like Reyna, Tillman has the skillset to help address issues in the USMNT`s midfield. However, their situations differ, not least because of Tillman`s valuable club experience. Tillman appears to be a significant beneficiary of Pochettino`s system, being deployed in a manner reminiscent of how the Argentine utilized Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli at Tottenham Hotspur. This approach has been highly effective this month, with Tillman scoring three goals and providing an assist in his last five national team games, emerging as the standout player of the Gold Cup campaign.
This offensive output is valuable not just individually, but for addressing the USMNT`s weaknesses, particularly the ongoing search for a reliable No. 9 due to injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent being out of favor with Pochettino. Tillman has comfortably slotted in behind Patrick Agyemang, who has also performed well in the Gold Cup, contributing to the USA`s persistent need for goals from various positions on the pitch. While Christian Pulisic remains a primary source, the more goalscorers, the better for the USMNT, making Tillman`s upward trajectory a welcome sight for a team seeking positive signs with the World Cup a year away.
In essence, Tillman may be fulfilling the potential role many had anticipated for Reyna, finally introducing a sense of competition that has long been desired for the USMNT – and he might not be the only player doing so.
USMNT`s Attacking Midfield Race Heats Up
The USMNT has largely been in a holding pattern since the 2022 World Cup, struggling collectively to fully realize the potential seen in them for over five years. Disappointing performances in last year`s Copa America and March`s Concacaf Nations League finals have raised questions about the depth of talent in the wider player pool or whether the team is destined for mediocrity. While the collective question remains open, there is now genuine competition for the attacking midfield position, which may not be present in other areas of the squad.
While Tillman makes his case for a starting spot, Real Salt Lake`s Diego Luna is another player vying for recognition. The 21-year-old has impressed Pochettino more than many others, notably starting ahead of Reyna in the CNL third-place match in March and assisting the USMNT’s only goal. He has yet to string together consistent elite performances, but if he can build form during the Gold Cup as Tillman has, it provides a clear reason for Reyna to potentially fall further down the pecking order.
This situation increases the pressure on Reyna to live up to his potential over the next year, a persistent theme for the player. He hasn`t achieved double-digit league starts at club level since the 2020-21 season. While injuries have played a role, this lack of playing time strongly suggests Dortmund has not been the right fit for him for years, a reality magnified by the present situation. He struggles to get minutes even in the Club World Cup, an end-of-season tournament where Kovac preferred players fatigued from a long European season over Reyna, who was relatively fresh. Meanwhile, Tillman and Luna are gaining significant playing time in the Gold Cup.
FIFA rules prioritizing the Club World Cup over the Gold Cup are not Reyna`s fault, but this feels like another missed opportunity for a young player who has spent more time on the bench than gaining valuable experience at a competitive European club. How Reyna responds to the challenge posed by players like Tillman and Luna potentially rising to prominence is a significant question for this summer and beyond. Crucially, this time, the national team may not have to bear the full brunt of the consequences.
