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Jeff Carlisle, American football reporter
ARLINGTON, Texas — U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter praised his team’s performance under pressure as they defeated Mexico 2-0 to win their third CONCACAF Nations League title. ability.
The U.S. rallied around halftime goals from Tyler Adams and CNL tournament player Giovanni Reyna. The U.S. National Team’s defense was also solid, extending its unbeaten streak against Mexico to seven games, the longest unbeaten run the U.S. has ever had in a series.
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“Today was the finals and you could see the guys were really focused all day long,” Berhalter said. “For me it’s important that we know what kind of game it’s going to be. We want to stay calm, play our football and give credit to the guys because I think the intensity throughout the game was Staying at a high level, that’s really important, especially against Mexico.”
Team USA remains the only team to win the CNL Championship. Berhalter revealed that he used the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls as the team’s motivation, superimposing the CNL Trophy onto a photo of Jordan holding up three fingers.
“That’s what we’re focused on,” he said of the three-peat. “It doesn’t happen very often. I think it’s happened maybe six times in the last 50 years in North American sports, professional sports, so it’s rare. Congratulations to the guys. Congratulations on a great final. .”
Berhalter was also full of praise for Reina, who deservedly won the best player award of the tournament with one goal and two assists.
“I thought he was outstanding for 75 minutes, and it’s been a while since he’s had that much game time,” Berhalter said. “It’s just a mental thing for him. He’s determined to get through it and get through it, and I think he’s done a really good job. Look, things have come to a head and we’re going to get rid of him.” He actually had cramps and it was obvious he needed to come out. But I think in all the games the last two games, I thought he did a good job. “
That title almost didn’t come to fruition as the United States was pushed to the limit against Jamaica in the CNL semifinals, needing an own goal in stoppage time to tie the game and then score two more goals in overtime to win. But Berhalter believes his side have returned to sub-par performances, although he admits the United States need to show more consistency ahead of this summer’s Copa America and the World Cup in two years.
“For me it’s really about performance in every game and that’s what it takes to be successful in something like the World Cup,” he said. “But I know the players from the last World Cup, as soon as they got to training camp, they felt focused, focused, focused. They were focused. The same thing happened in this camp as the camp went on. … To me, it’s really about taking advantage of every opportunity we have because before we know it, 2026 will be here.”