USMNT: Berhalter mocked for employing Michael Jordan motivation tactic

Gregg Berhalter’s motivation methods before the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final have been derided in a segment on the daily ESPN FC show.

The Americans were chasing a third straight CNL title, having won the inaugural 2021 final against Mexico and getting the better of Canada in the 2023 decider.

Berhalter's team defeated El Tri at the AT&T Stadium on Sunday after a Tyler Adams cracker from 30 yards and a Giovanni Reyna goal settled the game in front of 59,471 fans in Texas, extending the USMNT’s Nations League stranglehold.

Berhalter praised his team’s determination and resilience before disclosing a pre-match method to inspire his troops before facing their rivals.

The U.S. coach divulged using a photo of Michael Jordan to motivate his players, photoshopping the Nations League trophy onto the Chicago Bulls legend holding up three fingers.

"It feels great, that was our focus,” Berhalter said after the USMNT's CNL three-peat.

"We talked about it in the beginning of the camp. I showed them the Michael Jordan slide when he's holding up the three fingers with the trophy, and that's what we wanted. We photoshopped the Nations League trophy into the same picture with Michael Jordan.

“It doesn't happen too often. I think in North American sports in the last 50 years, pro sports, it's probably happened six times, so it's rare. And congratulations to the guys. Congratulations for playing a great final.”

Those remarks were met with a dismissive tone in the ESPN FC studio, with former Scotland and Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley questioning Berhalter’s rationale.

“Let’s have some realism about this scenario, this three-peat because Gregg Berhalter pitches up at the press conference as if he has an Olympic gold medal around his neck,” the retired midfielder said on Monday’s show.

“It’s the CONCACAF Nations League, which is the same scenario as the Nations League in Europe, isn’t it? But let’s call these what they are and what they’ve become: it’s an alternative to the friendlies. It’s a glorified friendly.

“I’ll cut some slack for the GOLD Cup as it’s somewhat taken more seriously. But this talk about the three-peat as if the CONCACAF Nations League is a big deal, come on!”

Berhalter’s men reconvene in June for the Copa America to be hosted on home soil. The Nations League winners play friendly games against Colombia and Brazil on June 8 and 13 in their tune-up fixtures preceding the finals.

The USMNT’s tournament begins with a clash against Bolivia on June 26 before facing Panama and Uruguay four days later and on July 1, respectively, seeking to advance from Group C.