Aaron Long has taken some criticism from certain segments of the U.S. men’s national team fan base, but Gregg Berhalter isn’t having it.
A vocal set of USMNT fans have long held some degree of disdain for players based in MLS, as Long is, and his recent performances—despite both games ending with no goals conceded—have seen him singled out for some hot takes.
For Berhalter, though, the angle is one he completely rejects.
“That’s insane, to say something like that,” said Berhalter in a press conference ahead of the USMNT’s Nations League opener against Grenada on Friday. “The guy was Defender of the Year in MLS. He’s coming back from an Achilles injury, and we’re purposely putting him in these games to keep pushing him and keep improving him.”
Long missed nearly all of 2021 after tearing his Achilles tendon, but has returned for both the New York Red Bulls and the USMNT this year. In the current June international window, he has so far played the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 win against Morocco, and started in a 0-0 draw with Uruguay before coming off at halftime.
Berhalter added that for him, Long has “a great character. He’s got tremendous speed, you know, and he’s working his way back to this level, which is a different level. And I think he’s doing quite well and I’m pleased with his progress.”
With Miles Robinson suffering an Achilles tear of his own earlier this season, the center back position is one the USMNT is focusing on intently. While Walker Zimmerman’s place seems solid, Long is competing in this camp with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Erik Palmer-Brown. Chris Richards and Mark McKenzie have both been called up in 2022 as well, while John Brooks remains on Berhalter’s radar despite not being called in for the last few World Cup qualifiers.
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