Reyna: ‘I’m not worried about it’
U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna believes the rapprochement between his club and country is firm. SOCCER AMERICA: You’ll be leaving Glasgow Rangers next month to play in the Gold Cup. Aren’t you concerned this will cause a recurrence of the problems you had in Germany? CLAUDIO REYNA: At Leverkusen, I was gone throughout the year at different times. Now, it will be three [league] games and that’s it. It’s obviously not going to help my situation, but I think I’ve done enough that Coach [Dick] Advocaat knows what he gets from me. The major difference is I’ve had a long run with Rangers under my belt and I’ve always been the starter. I realize it might affect [my situation], but I’m not worried about it.
SA: His recent statements regarding Australian Craig Moore being replaced if he left the club didn’t concern you? CR: He just got squeezed in a little pressure from the press over there and he said that. But there’s nothing I can do. It’s something American players have to put up with. If it turns out I don’t play or sit the bench a bit, that’s fine. I can’t worry about it. The relationship between Bruce [Arena] and Advocaat has been great. Bruce let me stay [in Scotland] for the Confederations Cup and that helped me out. It’s been a give-and-take. The situation is not bad and I don’t feel any tension.
SA: You’ll finish the Scottish season in late May. Are you planning to sit out U.S. Cup in June? CR: I’ll probably play. That U.S. Cup is going to be important for us, because it’s our last games before qualifiers. It’s nice to get a break, but once the games are on I know I’ll want to play, and I’ll get a little bit of a break before I go back to Rangers.
by Soccer America senior editor Ridge Mahoney
