Towards the end of Borussia Dortmund`s final group stage match in the Club World Cup on Wednesday, with just 12 minutes plus stoppage time remaining, manager Niko Kovac signaled that their objective was largely achieved. They held a 1-0 lead over South Korea`s Ulsan HD that looked secure, especially given the final shot count of 28-3, virtually guaranteeing them the top spot in Group F. Several Dortmund starters were substituted off, having ensured the team went unbeaten in the initial phase and would now get a short break before their Round of 16 match against Mexico`s Monterrey. Fresh legs came on – specifically, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gio Reyna.
For Reyna, those 12 minutes were not only his first in the Club World Cup but also his longest appearance for Dortmund since a 26-minute spell on April 15, when they were chasing a result against Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie they ultimately lost 5-3. It was a brief showing that offered Reyna little chance to impress, a point Kovac quickly addressed in his post-match comments.
“Gio, and also Juju [Julien Duranville], played their first few minutes in this Club World Cup,” Kovac stated. “We aim to give every player some game time, of course. We want to win, and we delivered a top-level performance in the first half, so I felt ready to bring on new players. We have strong competition in midfield. There`s a fantastic group of players, and Gio is one of them. He possesses good qualities, but looking at the other players, I believe they are currently a bit further ahead.”
Kovac`s concise explanation about Reyna is indicative of the 22-year-old`s career trajectory recently. It doesn`t offer much new insight, reflecting that five years after his initial breakthrough with Dortmund and the U.S. men`s national team, we`ve learned almost nothing substantial about his development as a professional player. While glimpses of his talent as an attacking midfielder are easily recalled, he has so far been unable to build a consistent record that either confirms or challenges assumptions about his potential. This stagnant situation has mirrored the national team, where Reyna has felt like just one player in a side that seemed stuck, even after a coaching change – until now.
Malik Tillman`s Breakthrough Summer
This summer`s experimental Gold Cup roster under the USMNT coaching setup has so far delivered one significant development: the rise of Malik Tillman.
The 23-year-old isn`t entirely new; he earned his first cap three years ago and has since established a role for himself with back-to-back Eredivisie champions PSV. Contributing goals is a key part of his game, with 25 goals and 17 assists across all competitions for the Dutch side over the past two seasons. He`s also a versatile player, capable of performing various attacking midfield tasks, whether operating in and around the opponent`s penalty area or progressing the ball forward.
Tillman, like Reyna, has always possessed the skillset to help solve issues in the USMNT`s unsettled midfield, but their current situations are not the same – and it`s not just because Tillman has consistent club playing time. Tillman appears to be the primary beneficiary of the current USMNT coaching approach, which seems to be utilizing him in a way that might remind some observers of Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli during certain managerial tenures. It has worked effectively this month, with Tillman scoring three goals and providing one assist in his last five national team appearances and emerging as a standout performer in the Gold Cup.
This level of production is valuable not only individually but also helps compensate for the USMNT`s deficiencies, particularly in the forward line. The team continues its search for a reliable No. 9, with the player pool affected by injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, while Josh Sargent is not currently favored. Tillman has fit in well playing behind Patrick Agyemang, who has also performed strongly in the Gold Cup, reinforcing the USA`s long-standing need for goals from various positions. Christian Pulisic is often the primary threat in this regard, but the more goalscorers, the better for the USMNT, making Tillman`s upward trajectory a welcome sight for a team eager for positive developments with the World Cup approaching.
In short, Tillman may be stepping into the role many anticipated for Reyna, finally bringing the kind of competition many have longed to see for the USMNT – and he might not be the only one.
Competition Intensifies in USMNT Attacking Midfield
The USMNT has largely felt stagnant since the 2022 World Cup, collectively struggling to live up to the potential widely recognized for over five years. Disappointing runs in last year`s Copa America and March`s Concacaf Nations League finals have raised questions about whether there is untapped talent elsewhere in the USMNT pool or if the team is destined for continued mediocrity. While the overall assessment for the group may still be undecided, there`s a clear sense of competition for the attacking midfield role that perhaps doesn`t currently exist in other positions.
While Tillman establishes his claim for a starting spot, Real Salt Lake`s Diego Luna is another player actively vying for consideration. The 21-year-old has impressed the coaching staff, notably earning a start over Reyna in the CNL third-place match in March and providing an assist for the USMNT`s only goal. He has yet to consistently replicate that level of performance, but if he also finds form during the Gold Cup in the way Tillman has, there`s a genuine possibility Reyna could drop even further down the depth chart.
This situation heightens the pressure on Reyna to finally deliver on his potential over the next year, a persistent challenge throughout his young career. He hasn`t recorded double-digit league starts at club level since the 2020-21 season, and while injuries have played a part, it`s a clear indication that Dortmund may not have been the right environment for him for years, a reality now more apparent than ever. He can`t even secure playing time in the Club World Cup, a late-season tournament where the coach opted for players fatigued from a long European season over Reyna`s relative freshness, all while Tillman and Luna gain valuable minutes in a different summer showcase. The fact that FIFA rules prioritize the Club World Cup over the Gold Cup isn`t Reyna`s fault, but it still feels like another missed opportunity for a young player who has spent more time on the bench than accumulating crucial game time at a competitive European club.
How Reyna responds to the pressure from players like Tillman and Luna potentially stepping up is a significant question this summer – but crucially, it`s a situation where the national team, for once, isn`t solely bearing the consequences.
Dominic Ashworth