Matt Miazga – Syndication Server

Miazga on Berhalter relationship: ‘The past is the past’

The USMNT defender has made no secret of the issues he’s had with Berhalter

Matt Miazga has downplayed any issues he’s previously had with U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, saying that “nobody really cares about what happened in the past.”

The USMNT defender has not hid the fact that his relationship with Berhalter has not always been strong, saying last fall that the pair “didn’t see eye to eye on a few things in the past,” which he felt prevented him from being called up.

This April, the FC Cincinnati defender aired out his belief that he “was screwed over multiple times in the past” by the USMNT coaching staff.

Things have changed now for both Miazga and Berhalter.

After making his return to MLS last year Miazga is back with the USMNT, playing in all three of the team’s Gold Cup group-stage matches to earn his first caps in two years.

Berhalter, meanwhile, has returned to his position as USMNT head coach after six months away — though interim coach B.J. Callaghan is still in charge through the Gold Cup.

Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday’s quarterfinal against Canada, Miazga attempted to put whatever issues he’s had with Berhalter in the past as he eyes further call-ups beyond this summer.

“I haven’t spoken to [Berhalter] since right before the World Cup when he called me but yeah, the past is the past,” Miazga said.

“At the end of the day, nobody really cares about what happened in the past. Things move on now I’m excited to be wearing the crest again. Obviously Gregg has the job, so I have to control what I can control and make sure that I can play well. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Miazga has now earned 26 caps since making his USMNT debut in November 2015.

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Back with USMNT, Miazga laments being ‘screwed over in the past’

The FC Cincinnati defender received his first call-up in nearly two years on Wednesday

Matt Miazga was named to the U.S. men’s national team roster on Wednesday, his first call-up in nearly two years.

In the FC Cincinnati defender’s opinion, it never should have taken that long.

After his call-up, Miazga aired out his belief that he was deserving of a USMNT spot multiple times in the past, but ended up being “screwed over” by the coaching staff.

“I told you guys last time, I was screwed over multiple times in the past,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Yeah, I think it is what it is. I always felt like I should be a part of that group throughout my career, especially the last few years. And now that I’m back in this capacity, the state that we’re in with an interim manager, I’m grateful to be able to show face again and try to stamp my ground again.”

Miazga said last fall that he and former coach Gregg Berhalter “didn’t see eye to eye on a few things” in the past, which he believes prevented him from earning more caps.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, interim USMNT coach Anthony Hudson said that Miazga’s move to MLS last year has given him some much-needed stability after several loans across Europe during his time on Chelsea’s books.

“I think Matt coming over here has given him the opportunity to get consistency and to get games,” Hudson said. “He’s done well. He’s now an experienced player.

“I think he’s always been knocking on the door, right on the edge of coming in. And I think he deserves his chance to come in and be involved in this game.”

The USMNT will face Mexico on Wednesday in the inaugural Allstate Continental Clásico.

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Matt Miazga says he and Gregg Berhalter ‘didn’t see eye to eye on a few things’

“I’d like to say few things but I’ll refrain from that. You guys will eventually find out”

Matt Miazga has said that some differences of opinion with U.S. national team head coach Gregg Berhalter may have prevented him from being considered for the World Cup squad.

Miazga moved to FC Cincinnati in August, ending a six-year spell at Chelsea that saw him make just two appearances for the Blues while taking in several loans at clubs across Europe.

The 27-year-old has slotted in seamlessly in Cincinnati, starting every game for the club after making his debut in mid-August and helping the team reach the Eastern Conference semifinal.

But Miazga’s strong form in MLS hasn’t seen him return to the USMNT picture.

Miazga has been capped 22 times by the USMNT, but his most recent appearance came in June 2021. Though the U.S. has a host of issues at center back, it doesn’t appear that Miazga is in contention for a World Cup roster spot. Any hope he may have had was likely ended when he wasn’t called in for the team’s pre-World Cup fitness camp.

Speaking to reporters this week, Miazga was asked about Berhalter name-checking him last month as a player who nearly made his roster for friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

In response, Miazga aired out his belief that some fundamental issues with Berhalter could be part of the reason he’s been out of the USMNT picture recently.

“We didn’t see eye to eye on a few things in the past and that has affected me from being called up. But it is what it is,” Miazga said.

“I’d like to say few things but I’ll refrain from that. You guys will eventually find out.

“I’m always ready to play for the national team. But I don’t make the decisions. There’s one guy that makes the decisions and that’s how it goes.”

Miazga was asked if he and Berhalter had patched things up, to which he responded: “Me and Gregg have been texting throughout the last four years. He’s been in touch with me recently and I’m sure he watches my games. Football works mysteriously, it moves quick. Me moving out of the national team moved quickly, me coming back in could move quickly as well.”

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Cameron Carter-Vickers to miss USMNT September friendlies

Berhalter is now dealing with a fifth injury-related absentee

Cameron Carter-Vickers is the latest player to end up unavailable for the upcoming U.S. men’s national team friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The Celtic center back was on Gregg Berhalter’s initial roster, but will not participate in the USMNT’s September friendlies after picking up an as-yet-unspecified injury in training.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglu told the Daily Record early on Sunday that the 24-year-old would likely miss the USMNT camp, and that they hoped to have him available coming out of the international break.

“We’ll see how he is. I think he’s out of the US camp,” said Postecoglu. “We are hoping, post-international break, he won’t be too far away.”

Speaking at halftime of ESPN‘s broadcast of the Columbus Crew hosting the Portland Timbers, Berhalter confirmed that Carter-Vickers would not participate in friendlies against Japan (September 23 in Dusseldorf) and Saudi Arabia (September 27 in Murcia).

“Cam will be out of this camp, which is unfortunate,” said Berhalter. “We wanted to get him in and get him around the group this camp, but unfortunately he won’t be in. We are working on a replacement as we speak.”

Carter-Vickers is the latest USMNT player to end up unavailable in this window. Antonee Robinson and Tim Weah are both dealing with ankle sprains, though both players are believed to be close to a return. Zack Steffen was supposed to be out in order to rest and overcome a knee injury, but started for Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Berhalter then called in Internacional midfielder Johnny Cardoso as a replacement for Yunus Musah, who picked up what Valencia has said is a minor groin injury after the initial roster was announced.

Who will Berhalter call in to replace Carter-Vickers?

There was no immediate announcement of the USMNT’s choice to replace Carter-Vickers, but it stands to reason that Berhalter will add a center back to a squad that is currently down to just three (Aaron Long, Chris Richards, and Walker Zimmerman) rather than boosting numbers at a different position.

Mark McKenzie and Erik Palmer-Brown feel like the leading candidates at this point. While McKenzie has been in and out of Genk’s lineup so far this season, he has more of a history under Berhalter. However, Palmer-Brown has started every game for Troyes in Ligue 1, which may be enough to see him push ahead in what is probably a last chance to stake a claim on a World Cup spot for both players.

Berhalter also mentioned Matt Miazga as someone he’s been monitoring after announcing his squad, meaning the FC Cincinnati man is also a candidate here. While Berhalter also mentioned Fulham captain Tim Ream, it came with a note about how the style of play Ream does well in is not a good mesh with the USMNT’s system. A similar situation is likely to keep John Brooks out of the reckoning, even after the USMNT veteran sealed a move to Benfica.

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Matt Miazga has no regrets about joining Chelsea’s loan army

“Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, you go on loan, it’s not the right development path.’ But realistically, it is”

Matt Miazga knows what people say about his move to Chelsea.

Though the appeal of joining a Premier League power was undeniable, the perception is that the defender bit off more than he could chew when joining the Blues from the New York Red Bulls at age 20.

In six years, Miazga made a grand total of two appearances for Chelsea. Disappointing? Sure. Surprising? Not at a club notorious for signing players and sending them on a never-ending series of loans until they are either sold or their contracts run out.

Miazga, who signed with FC Cincinnati last week, has heard all of it. And he wants to say that even now, after six years at Chelsea and five loan clubs, he isn’t feeling any regret.

“There was a lot of interest for me, and when Chelsea comes calling, when [Jose] Mourinho calls you and you’re able to meet with him in London, you’re not going to say no, really. It’s a dream and it was a proud moment to be wanted by a massive club like that,” Miazga told reporters on Tuesday.

Matt Miazga of Chelsea tussles for the ball with Jefferson Montero of Swansea during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at the Liberty Stadium on April 9, 2016 in Swansea, Wales (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

After two appearances in his first half season at Stamford Bridge, Miazga’s journey took him to Vitesse, Nantes, Reading, Anderlecht and finally Alavés.

“Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, you go on loan, it’s not the right development path.’ But realistically, it is,” said Miazga. “I’m taking steps to climb back up the ladder. And that was the development process in all this.”

In Miazga’s telling, whatever he missed in terms of a stable club environment was made up for by experiencing different clubs, cultures, countries, playing styles and teammates all across Europe.

It’s experience that he hopes serves him well as he begins his second stint in MLS, chasing a league title as well as a return to the U.S. national team.

“I’ve been able to live in so many different countries – play football, my passion, in so many different countries,” the defender said. “And meet so many new people, so many lifelong friends that I’ll always have, teammates and people within the clubs that I played at, as well as immersing myself in new cultures, new places to live, and learning.

“When I look back, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

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Matt Miazga’s Chelsea odyssey finally ends as defender joins FC Cincinnati

The USMNT defender made just two appearances for Chelsea after joining in 2016

Matt Miazga has finally ended his Chelsea spell after six and a half years, returning to MLS to join up with FC Cincinnati on a deal through 2025 with an option for a further season.

Miazga will not be a Designated Player for Cincinnati, which landed the defender by virtue of their spot atop the league’s Allocation Order.

Miazga moved to Chelsea in 2016 after breaking through with the New York Red Bulls, but made just two senior appearances for the Blues while going on loan to five different teams.

Now 27, Miazga returns to MLS in search of a permanent home for the first time in several years.

“I’m really excited to join FC Cincinnati,” Miazga said in a club announcement. “It’s a pleasure to be back in the United States and be able to compete in MLS again. The project here in Cincinnati is something that has drawn me here, and I want to say a special thank you to Jeff Berding, Chris Albright and Pat Noonan, who were all a big part of me coming to FCC. I can’t wait to meet all the amazing supporters, who I’ve heard so many good things about, at TQL Stadium.”

Last season saw Miazga go on loan to Alavés, but he struggled for playing time as the team was relegated from La Liga.

Prior to that spell in Spain, the defender had spent time on loan with Vitesse, Nantes, Reading and Anderlecht.

Miazga has been capped 22 times with the U.S. men’s national team, but has not made an appearance since June 2021.

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