U.S. men's team players credit Berhalter for turnaround

[December 10, 2021] LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The leadership of U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter's has been critical to putting the squad in position to make next year's World Cup after their heartbreaking failure to reach the tournament in 2018, players said on Thursday.

A youthful U.S. side beat Mexico to win the CONCACAF Nations League in June and the Gold Cup in August before taking down their rivals again in World Cup qualifying last month.

Canada head the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings with 16 points followed by the United States with 15. Mexico and Panama both have 14 points.

The top three in the eight-team group qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 with the fourth-placed finisher going into an intercontinental playoff for another spot.

Players said the team has responded to Berhalter's vision and leadership.

"Everyone is on the same page now," defender Auston Trusty told reporters ahead of Saturday's friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Southern California.

"Everyone knows what Gregg wants, everyone knows how the team wants to play and where players are supposed to be.

"You see it all coming together. It's rising really."

United States coach Gregg Berhalter REUTERS/Erick Marciscano

Kevin Paredes, who like Trusty is a defender who will earn his first cap on Saturday, said he has been learning a lot from Berhalter.

"He understands my strength and my weaknesses," he said.

"We've been talking about what position would fit me best. I've tried wing back, tried winger, tried center mid.

"I'm just learning and growing and we're still trying figure out the main position for me to continue on to play for the U.S."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, editing by Ed Osmond)

[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.