None of it was lost on USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, who watched Mueller bag a brace and an assist in his international debut in the 6-0 friendly victory over El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wednesday night.
"He took a different path than most players are taking nowadays and still got to the same point," Berhalter said. "That's the great thing about soccer and a great thing about the work that Chris has put in. He's definitely helped himself this week."
When he got word he was invited to camp, Mueller realized he was given a chance of a lifetime, although he admitted he was "a little bit nervous."
"I had those butterflies you usually get before any other match," he said. "I'd never been in a [national team] camp growing up and this was my first one. So, being in a camp this whole this whole week I've definitely just been trying to make the most of it, trying to learn as much as I can."
The 24-year-old Mueller admitted that he might have some trepidation in his first few training sessions before Berhalter had a talk with him.
He credited the manager with pushing him in the right direction.
"There's a lot of things that are running through your head and he took me aside and told me to calm down a little bit and said, 'Hey, you had a great year. You're here for a reason because you've earned it. You've worked really hard and just be yourself out there, be who you've been all year. Don't try and be something else and try and change a bunch of things. Just continue to be yourself and be, Chris Mueller,’“ the winger said. “That is what I tried to do and show today."
He showed who he was as he did his damage during a five-minute span in the opening half.
With the Red, White and Blue nursing a 1-0 lead, Mueller took center stage. He scored his first international goal in the 20th minute, calmly slotting home a Jackson Yueill feed from 14 yards out.
"in" - Google News
December 10, 2020 at 11:03PM
https://ift.tt/3oGiR2V
Chris Mueller Rises to the Occasion in USMNT Debut - U.S. Soccer
"in" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2MLa3Y1
https://ift.tt/2YrnuUx
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Chris Mueller Rises to the Occasion in USMNT Debut - U.S. Soccer"
Post a Comment