sport news World Cup: USA coach Gregg Berhalter shuts down claims he asked Gio Reyna to ... trends now 'That's just not who I am': USA coach Gregg Berhalter shuts down claims he asked Gio Reyna to LIE about an injury and insists there is not a rift between the pair as the winger is a 'member of this team that we care deeply for' By Isabel Baldwin For Dailymail.Com Published: 15:57 GMT, 28 November 2022 | Updated: 15:58 GMT, 28 November 2022 Viewcomments USA coach Gregg Berhalter insisted that Gio Reyna is a beloved member of the roster after claims a rift between the two has been the cause of the Borussia Dortmund winger's omission from the team's starting lineup. Berhalter had suggested that Reyna didn't feature in the USA's opener against Wales due to an injury and the 20-year-old also didn't make the starting XI against England, only entering the game in the 83rd minute. Former USMNT forward Eric Wynalda accused Berhalter of lying about the injury and asking Reyna to go along with it, which he claimed led to a 'rift' between the two. USA coach Gregg Berhalter insisted that Gio Reyna is a beloved member of the roster The American manager shut down claims he had lied over the Dortmund winger's injury However, when asked about Wynalda's claims in a press conference ahead of the USA's crunch clash against Iran Monday, Berhalter insisted he would not lie about such an issue. Addressing the media, he said: 'There's been four years with you guys [the press], and I'll leave it to you guys to decide if I asked Gio to lie about it. 'That's just not who I am. That's not what I represent. So if you have to take my word or Eric's word, feel free. But I know what happened. That's not what I represent. 'And like every other person, Gio is a member of this team that we care deeply for and we know can help the team. It's a matter of when he can help us and how he can help us.' Berhalter insisted that Reyna was a valued member of the USMNT roster and can help the team Wynalda had also claimed that Reyna's absence from the starting lineup has caused issues within the camp. 'With Gio Reyna out of the lineup right now, which has been a massive controversy within the team, even his own teammates are wanting him on the field and it seems to be some internal strife with the manager Gregg Berhalter,' he said in a Twitter spaces with the LA Times. 'I don't know how much I should comment on that but I have been trying to console Gio's father [and former USMNT teammate] Claudio for the last couple of hours, and well, the last couple of days with everything going on. While Berhalter said there was a 'last-minute check done' on Reyna before the 1-1 draw with Wales, the winger said he felt 'really good' after the match. Former US forward Eric Wynalda claimed Reyna's absence has caused issues within the camp Reyna was widely expected to start both USA games so far for the tournament in Qatar Berhalter later clarified that Reyna's absence vs. Wales was a 'coach's decision' and he was available for the match. The USMNT team heads into Tuesday's game against Iran knowing that it must clinch a victory to progress to the knockout stages. After two ties against Wales and England, the US sits third in Group B with two points, one point off Iran, who will progress with a win or a tie, as long as Wales doesn't surprisingly beat England. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility