New US coach Berhalter vows ‘attacking’ approach
NEW YORK: United States coach Gregg Berhalter said on Tuesday he will seek an attacking style of football when his reign gets under way next month with a friendly international against Panama.
Berhalter, who was named as head coach on Sunday after a year-long search by the United States Soccer Federation, was formally introduced at a media conference in New York on Tuesday.
The 45-year-old has been handed the task of rebuilding the United States men’s team after its shock failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals in Russia.
Berhalter said after viewing the performancesoftheteamoverthepast year — when the squad was managed bycaretakerbossdavesarachan—he was confident enough talent existed to build a successful team.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about the failure of the past,” Berhalter told reporters.
“But over the past year I have seen a group of young talented players, a group with potential. I saw a group thatneedsdevelopmentanddirection. And when I look at the whole squad, there’s quality.”
The former US international defender, a veteran of two World Cup campaigns, said he would encourage his teams to pursue an aggressive approach.
“The idea is that we’re an attacking-based team that wants to create goal-scoring opportunities by disorganizing the opponent,” Berhalter said.
Berhalter’s first game in charge will be against Panama in Glendale, Arizona on Jan.27, followed by a friendly against Costa Rica in San Jose, California on Feb.2.