CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Which Americans are playing this week in match day 3 of the UEFA Champions League?
The USMNT has various representatives all featuring in Europe’s elite competition - we take a look at who is set to feature across the continent.
Things aren’t like they used to be, and Europe is no longer the final frontier for players coming from the United States. The continent where football began had long been a place where USMNT players and managers struggled to find their feet and replicate the success that they had seen on home soil. Not anymore.
The USMNT have various representatives that are now plying their trade in Europe’s elite competition - the UEFA Champions League. Gregg Berhalter, the national team head coach, travelled to Italy last weekend to watch AC Milan vs Juventus in a scouting mission for his side. This week should be no different: Gregg will no doubt have his binoculars round his neck as he tours the rest of the continent on the search of US talent shining in Europe.
Which Americans are set to play in the Champions League this week? We take a look...
Brenden Aaronson
Brenden Aaronson is not having the best of times in Berlin and can’t seen to shake off the problems that saw him flop in the Premier League with Leeds United. The midfielder will always be a pressing machine, but in teams that need more than wild running statistics, Aaronson seems to be left behind on repeated occasions. The 23-year-old has played just 5 times in the league this season and is yet to complete 90 minutes: in the Champions League he was a second-half substitute against Real Madrid and only managed to fall over after a shove from Toni Kroos on the edge of the box. While the player shows promise for the USMNT, he is unlikely to feature much in his club fixture this midweek, against Napoli.
Christian Pulisic & Yunus Musah
The pair of AC Milan Americans had a tough time as Gregg Berhalter’s watchful eye peered out from the stands of San Siro, going 0-1 down to Juventus in Serie A, thanks to a Manuel Locatelli goal. However, the occasion itself and the fact that 4 US internationals featured in one of Italy’s most historic fixtures definitely left people thinking brightly about the future of the sport in the states and the upcoming tournaments in which the USMNT will want to leave a good impression. Pulisic, Captain America, is relighting his football fire for AC Milan after leaving England and is showing himself to be an impactful player, if not a certain starter. As for Yunus Musah, he is certainly a key piece in Stefano Pioli’s side, and has anchored the base of midfield on many occasions this season. Both of them will expect to feature against PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday 25 October.
Sergiño Dest
In recent years, the right-back has even played some games with his backpack on, as he’s never sure if he will be able to settle down in one place or if he’ll be swiftly moving on. OK, that’s not true, but it feels like Sergiño Dest has been unable to nail down a place in anyone’s starting XI for years - until now. The USMNT defender is finally seeing minutes for PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie, having played in 4 of their 7 games this season, missing just one to injury. Last year his unsuccessful spell on loan at AC Milan from Barcelona left everyone with a sour taste in the mouth as Dest never got going and played just 14 games for the club between niggling injuries. When fully fit, he is an asset to any team, so the tunnel is definitely there for him to keep climbing down and looking to see if there is a light at the end of it.
Gio Reyna
Reyna, like Brenden Aaronson, is finding minutes difficult to come by this season for Borussia Dortmund. The winger is yet to start due to a foot injury and has played just 54 minutes in total from the bench. He did feature in and shine for the USMNT’s most recent squad, however, as he looks to find match fitness, it remains to be seen wether Edin Terzic uses the Champions League as a way to give him playing time or whether he will wait for games with a little less jeopardy.
