Towards the end of Borussia Dortmund`s final group stage match at the Club World Cup on Wednesday, with 12 minutes plus stoppage time remaining, coach Niko Kovac signaled the job was done. Leading 1-0 against South Korea`s Ulsan HD, a scoreline largely unchallenged given Dortmund`s 28-3 shot advantage, securing the top spot in Group F was guaranteed. Several starters were substituted off, securing Dortmund`s unbeaten group stage and allowing for rest before their upcoming round of 16 game against Mexico`s Monterrey. Fresh players entered the match, specifically Carney Chukwuemeka and Gio Reyna.
For Reyna, this 12-minute appearance marked his debut in the Club World Cup and his most significant playing time for Dortmund since a 26-minute spell on April 15. That previous outing occurred as they chased a game against Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie they ultimately lost 5-3. His brief cameo offered little opportunity for Reyna to make an impact, a point Kovac swiftly addressed in his post-match comments.
Coach Kovac commented on Reyna`s limited minutes, stating, “Gio and also Juju [Julien Duranville] got their first few minutes in this Club World Cup. Naturally, we aim to give minutes to every player. We prioritize winning, and having delivered a top-level performance in the first half, I felt ready to introduce new players. Competition is fierce in our midfield. We have a fantastic group of players, and Gio is part of that. He certainly possesses good qualities, but frankly, I believe other players are currently slightly further along.”
Kovac`s blunt response regarding Reyna reflects the current state of the 22-year-old`s career. It offers little new insight, underscoring how, five years after his promising emergence for both Dortmund and the USMNT, there`s still limited definitive evidence regarding his capabilities as a professional. While flashes of his talent as an attacking midfielder are easy to remember, he hasn`t yet established a consistent performance record to validate or challenge the assumptions about his potential. This mundane pattern has extended to the national team, where Reyna has been just one member of a squad that, despite recent coaching changes, has seemed stagnant – until perhaps this summer.
Malik Tillman`s Breakthrough Summer
Coach Mauricio Pochettino`s experimental approach with a youthful Gold Cup squad this summer has yielded one significant outcome: the emergence of Malik Tillman.
The 23-year-old isn`t entirely new to the scene, having earned his first cap three years ago and establishing himself at PSV Eindhoven, who have won the Eredivisie title for the past two seasons. Contributing to goals is a hallmark of his play; he`s tallied 25 goals and 17 assists across all competitions over the last two campaigns with the Dutch club. Crucially, his game features versatility, enabling him to fulfill various attacking midfield duties, whether operating near the opponent`s box or driving the ball forward.
Like Reyna, Tillman has always possessed the qualities needed to address some of the USMNT`s persistent midfield issues. However, their situations differ significantly, and not just because Tillman has gained valuable club experience. Tillman appears to be the initial beneficiary of Pochettino`s tenure, with the coach seemingly utilizing him in a role reminiscent of how he deployed Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. This approach has been remarkably effective this month, as Tillman has contributed three goals and one assist in his last five national team appearances, solidifying his status as a breakout performer in their Gold Cup campaign.
This level of production is not only personally beneficial but also helps compensate for the USMNT`s weaknesses, particularly upfront. The team still seeks a consistent No. 9 striker, with the player pool affected by injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent currently not in Pochettino`s plans. Tillman has effectively operated behind Patrick Agyemang, who has shown his best form during the Gold Cup, reinforcing the USA`s persistent need for goals from various positions. While Christian Pulisic is the primary source, having more players who can score is always advantageous for the USMNT, making Tillman`s progress a hopeful development for a team anticipating the World Cup just a year from now.
In essence, Tillman appears to be stepping into a role that many anticipated Reyna would occupy, ultimately introducing a competitive dynamic long desired within the USMNT setup. Furthermore, he might not be the sole player doing so.
The USMNT`s Attacking Midfield Competition Intensifies
Since the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT has largely been in a state of stasis, consistently failing to fulfill the potential many observers have noted over the past five years or more. Poor performances in last year`s Copa America and March`s Concacaf Nations League finals have prompted debate: does the broader USMNT player pool contain untapped talent, or is the team destined for ongoing mediocrity? While the answer for the squad as a whole remains uncertain, a genuine battle for the attacking midfield position has clearly emerged, a level of competition perhaps not yet present in other areas of the pitch.
While Tillman is solidifying his place in the squad, Real Salt Lake`s Diego Luna is another contender vying for recognition. The 21-year-old has gained favor with Pochettino in a manner few others have managed recently, notably starting ahead of Reyna in the CNL third-place match in March and assisting the USMNT`s only goal. He hasn`t yet produced a consistent string of comparable displays, but if he develops his form during the Gold Cup much like Tillman has, it creates a compelling possibility of Reyna dropping further down the depth chart.
This scenario increases the pressure on Reyna to finally deliver on his potential in the coming year, a persistent challenge throughout his career. He hasn`t accumulated double-digit league starts for his club since the 2020-21 season, and while injuries play a part, it`s a strong indication that Dortmund hasn`t been the ideal environment for him for quite some time, with the current situation only highlighting this fact. He couldn`t even secure significant playing time at the Club World Cup, a tournament where Coach Kovac seemingly favored players fatigued from a demanding European season over Reyna`s relative lack of recent game time. This contrasts sharply with Tillman and Luna, who are gaining valuable minutes in a different, high-profile summer competition. Although FIFA regulations prioritizing the Club World Cup over the Gold Cup aren`t Reyna`s doing, this feels like another missed chance for a young talent who has spent more time as a substitute than competing effectively at a top European level.
How Reyna reacts to the challenge posed by players like Tillman and Luna potentially excelling remains a crucial question this summer. However, for the first time, the national team isn`t solely responsible for managing the fallout.
