The United States is a highly sports-loving nation. But, despite having considerable love for soccer, the US Men’s National Team is still struggling to make its mark at a world level. The US Soccer was claimed to have some serious flaws which hindered the USMNT’s progress. However, the National Soccer League’s founder, Scott Michaels, recently claimed one major issue regarding coach Gregg Berhalter, saying he “initially secured the role through family ties.”

The USMNT has recurrently won the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a trophy equivalent to the UEFA Euros. But the unit has not made it past the round of 16s in the World Cup since 2002. Moreover, as they are hosting this year’s Copa America, the home crowd expectations will be high. Yet, Michaels perceived their overall condition as lackluster, citing Berhalter’s recruitment as an issue in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports.

Scott Michaels questions the hiring of Gregg Berhalter

Gregg Berhalter, who also played for the USMNT, was first chosen as the coach in 2018. However, Michaels called it an influence from his family and unmerited, which landed him as the coach, adding to the team’s weakness. In an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports, Michaels stated, “The Men’s National Team (USMNT), which lacks depth both in talent and a distinct playing identity, The managerial situation exacerbates this issue, as the head coach initially secured the role through familial ties rather than merit, casting doubts on objectivity and raising concerns of potential conflicts of interest.”

Various controversies have marred Berhalter’s time as the USMNT coach. The first recruitment in June 2018 was initiated when his brother, Jay Berhalter, held a powerful position in the USSF’s operations. Reports claimed that Jay, who recruited Earnie Stewart as the general manager of the USMNT in 2018, was the one who chose Gregg for the role. Reports claimed that after scouting 33 personnel, 11 were shortlisted, and ultimately, the 50-year-old was given the nod.

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Moreover, Michaels felt that the recruitment policy of US Soccer has resulted in a less creative squad. He added, “The current system tends to prioritize athleticism over intelligence, a fundamentally flawed approach that hinders the identification of players with a nuanced understanding of the game.”

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Nevertheless, the USMNT qualified for the 2022 World Cup under Berhalter after failing in 2018. But they removed the 2011 MLS winner temporarily last January after the World Cup because of an investigation. He was accused of a domestic assault on his wife 31 years ago, but the investigation cleared him by citing his transparency as a reason, paving the way for his return. However, Michaels still sees his presence as a roadblock.

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