Leeds United defender Tyler Adams is likely to be displeased with United States men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter.
The 23-year-old played against Japan, but specialist Herculez Gomez says he’s likely furious at the way his manager approached the match.
“They wanted to treat it like a World Cup group stage match,” Gomez said. “Is that the performance you did ?! The mindset was to treat this as a group stage game. Tyler Adams will not fail. For Tyler Adams, I know his blood is boiling, and that’s what I love about him, but hearing his coach say “they lacked personality”.
“I feel that Tyler Adams, in his head, thinks he’s the real captain of this team and the real leader of this team and he’s bubbling over the comments. In his head, Tyler Adams doesn’t think he’s prepared these men, absolutely (Adams thinks that depends on him as a leader).
“It was the 2017 Open Cup final and I’m calling the match between Kansas and New York. Here’s this guy from Tyler Adams, who was 16, and he’s literally telling his teammates to “pick it up”. He literally tells his teammates “you have to be better”. As in the face and while I am down.
“I asked him for information and he said, ‘It is my responsibility, regardless of age, to prepare these guys. Knowing that they are awake for the moment because they cannot disappoint me and themselves.” I remember thinking’ what is this lad?’ But I loved that mentality, so I know he’ll be offended by that.
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