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Chris Richards, Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie shine, Christian Pulisic on sidelines

Chris Richards Hoffenheim February 2021

With so much talent among their ranks, the United States men’s national soccer team could soon become a great side and we are continuing to follow the progress of the American stars in Europe.

While Christian Pulisic has to bide his time and wait for an opportunity under Thomas Tuchel's stewardship at Chelsea, a number of the United States men's national team are flourishing in Europe.

Weston McKennie is catching the attention of Andrea Pirlo at Juventus and, further ashore in Germany, Matthew Hoppe and Giovanni Reyna are being offered constant chances to start for their respective clubs.

The United States remain a 60-1 longshot with Paddy Power for glory at FIFA World Cup 2022 - but we will continue to track each player's progress with a weekly report and rating.

Christian Pulisic

20th February, Southampton 1-1 Chelsea

After admitting in midweek no decision had been made on the American's future, Pulisic missed the trip to Southampton due to injury.
When asked for further clarification, Tuchel suggested this was an attempt to manage the risk of injury to the 22-year-old and the German manager insisted his former Dortmund colleague remains in his plans for the future.

Rating: N/A

Deandre Yedlin

20th February, Alanyaspor 0-1 Galatasaray

Having moved to Turkey in January, Yedlin got his first full 90 minutes under his belt, away at Alanyaspor as his new team went top of the Super Lig.
Enjoying a relatively quiet afternoon in defence, the right-back was able to focus on his attacking duties down the right-hand side.
To top the visitors' clean sheet, in the 18th minute, the United States wing-back delivered an outstanding assist to tee up Emre Kilinc's opener.
With his first Galatasaray start now secured, Yedlin will be hopeful for a run of games in the side to make the right-back spot his own.

Rating: 7.5/10

Sergino Dest

21st February, Barcelona 1-1 Cadiz

After a tough Champions League lesson on Tuesday at the hands of the scintillating Kylian Mbappe, Dest bounced back with a solid performance against Cadiz.

Before being replaced 10 minutes before the end, Dest repeatedly posed an attacking threat down the right-hand side, while lacking a little quality to make the killer pass in the final third.

The right-back has openly admitted his recent struggles with form, however, he can take confidence from an improved performance on Saturday.

Rating: 7/10

Giovanni Reyna

20th February, Schalke 0-4 Borussia Dortmund

Despite the away side scoring four times, Reyna - who played for 80 minutes - failed to produce any significant attacking contributions as Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland tore apart Schalke.

Displaying a few nice touches here and there, Reyna may be frustrated with his contributions but should take confidence from the fact he is starting ahead of Julian Brandt and Marco Reus.

Rating: 6/10

Matthew Hoppe

20th February, Schalke 0-4 Borussia Dortmund

Hoppe struggled throughout, lacking invention and the ability to hold up the ball as fellow American, Reyna's side dominated from the 40-minute mark onwards.
Coming off in the 66th minute, the United States forward has now gone five games without scoring - a poor run of form which also resembles Schalke's lowly Bundesliga position.
If Christian Gross' men are to avoid the drop, they will be desperate for the 19-year-old striker to start scoring before it is too late and their Bundesliga exit is confirmed.

Rating: 6/10

Tyler Adams

21st February, Hertha Berlin 0-3 RB Leipzig

Starting as a right wing-back for the visitors, Adams covered a lot of ground in both defence and attack, which was ultimately rewarded with an assist for Nordi Mukiele's 71st-minute goal.
While Adams may prefer a defensive-midfield position, his strong performance on the right-hand side will mean that is where Julian Nagelsmann continues to deploy him.
A Champions League comeback against Liverpool in midweek may prove a step too far but Adams should be encouraged by his and his team's performances since the start of February.

Rating: 7.5/10

Josh Sargent

21st February, Hoffenheim 4-0 Werder Bremen

Sargent, who has scored just twice this season, played 82 minutes before being replaced up top by Eren Sami Dinkci.
Like his American attacking compatriot Hoppe, Sargent struggled to make a significant impact, regularly failing to link-up with strike partner Milot Rashica.
Looking ahead to the next season, talk and rumours around a loan move to build Sargent's confidence persists and perhaps that could be the best thing for the 21-year-old's career.

Rating: 6/10

Chris Richards

21st February, Hoffenheim 4-0 Werder Bremen

Operating as part of the hosts' three-man defence, the American centre-back, who missed out with a knock last week, emphatically returned to the Hoffenheim side that crushed Werder Bremen 4-0.
Keeping his United States team-mate, Josh Sargent, quiet all game, Richards produced a commanding display to record his side's first clean sheet in four games.

After being loaned out by Bayern Munich at the end of January, Richards will now be hoping to nail down his spot in Sebastian Hoeness' team.

Rating: 7/10

Weston McKennie

22nd February, Juventus 3-0 Crotone

McKennie played the full 90 minutes, partnering Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle of the park to guide his side to a 3-0 win.
Winning duels, finding key passes and dominating the game, the American's performance had it all and duly deserved the reward of scoring Juventus' third goal.
His all-action showing saw him rarely give away possession, while constantly bolting forward to get up and support the hosts' attackers.
Rating: 8/10

Tim Weah

21st February, Lorient 1-4 Lille

Tim Weah Lille

Tim Weah showed brief glimpses of quality

Appearing as a 65th-minute substitute for Canadian Jonathan David, Weah showed brief glimpses of quality but failed to score, which makes it three Ligue 1 games without a goal now.
Despite his quiet spell, Weah's talent is undoubtedly there, given his wonderful goal in midweek against Ajax, it should only be a matter of time before the American forward starts to torment French top-flight defences.

Rating: 6/10

Bryan Reynolds

21st February, Benevento 0-0 Roma

Reynolds continues to stay out of the side, focusing on individual training to return to full fitness, having not played for the best part of three months.
Paulo Fonesca, the Roma manager, explained prior to the Benevento game that Reynolds is currently back in the United States sorting a visa-related issue but will return to the Italian capital in the coming days.

Rating: N/A

Indiana Vassilev

20th February, Cheltenham Town 0-2 Bradford City

Currently on loan at Michael Duff's Cheltenham, Vassilev was introduced in the 59th minute but couldn't stop Bradford from ending his team's unbeaten run.
The Robins threatened throughout but couldn't breach the away side's defence, with Vassilev struggling to contribute in his 30-minute cameo.
Having only played four games as a substitute so far, the Aston Villa loanee will need to do more if he is to feature in Duff's plans in the coming weeks.

Rating: 6/10

Antonee Robinson

20th February, Fulham 1-0 Sheffield United

Robinson, who had not started for the three previous games, put in a lively and spirited performance on the left-hand side of Fulham's defence.
The wing-back consistently posed a threat to his opposite man George Baldock, while also popping up with some crucial defensive interventions to secure an important three points for the Cottagers.
While constantly looking like an attacking threat, the American defender's final ball often lacked the quality to find lone striker Josh Maja in the area.
Nevertheless, an effective performance by the left-back should be more than enough to keep his place in Parker's side ahead of Ola Aina operating as an inverted wing-back.

Rating: 7/10

Tim Ream

20th February, Fulham 1-0 Sheffield United

In the same fixture, Tim Ream remained an unused substitute, with the centre-back partnership of Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen still preferred by Scott Parker.

Rating: N/A

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