LAS VEGAS, Nevada – On Sunday, the journey of the United States Men’s National team in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup will come to an end with the Final against Mexico.
For U.S. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, the past month has provided an opportunity to work with many young players within the U.S. system and in the short time they have been together, Berhalter has seen his U.S. team grow by leaps and bounds.
“There are so many things to like from this group. It starts with their mindset of not being satisfied, of always wanting to improve, of always wanting to get better, using every opportunity every single day to get better as a group, as a team,” said Berhalter in an exclusive interview with Conccaf.com.
In particular, Berhalter hailed the unity and cohesion shown among the players, which has made for a memorable Gold Cup campaign; lifting the trophy after Sunday’s full-time whistle would make it even more special.
“The second thing that stands out is how they support each other and the atmosphere they create in the camp. We’ve seen these guys bond and support each other. It’s almost like it doesn’t matter who is on the field because you have the whole group pulling for each other. When a guy gets an opportunity, he is ready to step up and make a difference for the team. It’s been a great month together and we’d love to cap it off with a Gold Cup trophy,” said Berhalter.
Standing in the way of the U.S. in their quest for a seventh Gold Cup crown is a Mexico team that boasts a different wrinkle than the ones that Berhalter’s team faced in the 2019 Gold Cup Final and the 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals.
Leading the forward line for El Tricolor is new arrival Rogelio Funes Mori, who has three goals thus far in the tournament. Berhalter is acutely aware of the challenges Funes Mori will bring to the U.S. defense.
“He’s a great player. He’s one of the best players in the tournament so far. He’s lethal in the penalty box and overall a good player, so for us it’s a challenge. We’re going to have to be brave and embrace the physicality of what he brings and compete. If we can do that, we can limit him to just a few opportunities,” concluded Berhalter.
