Herculez Gomez has claimed that Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams isn’t a happy individual after USA’s 2-0 defeat to Japan in an international friendly on Friday.
The former USA international thinks Adams’ ‘blood is boiling’ and he isn’t happy with his manager Gregg Berhalter because they treated that Japan match ‘like a World Cup group game’, yet came out with a poor performance, as he told ESPN.
As England and Gareth Southgate are finding out, you don’t want to head to the World Cup with little momentum and a lack of form because it might come back to hurt you.
Well, on Tuesday, the USA, who are in England’s group for Qatar, have a chance to put things right when they face off in a friendly encounter against Saudi Arabia, their final game before the 2022 World Cup.
Adams was pretty vocal and critical of his side’s last performance, as the £20 million Leeds midfielder (Sky Sports) is seen as the leader of his team.
Well, after Friday’s game, Gomez was reacting to Adams’ no-nonsense interview and how he loves the leadership qualities within the player, something which he explained he has shown since he was 16-years-old.
“They wanted to treat this like a World Cup group phase game,” said Gomez. “That’s the performance you put out?! The mentality was to treat this like a group phase game. Tyler Adams won’t be missing. For Tyler Adams, I know his blood is boiling, and that’s what I love about him, but to hear his coach say ‘they were lacking personality’.
“I feel Tyler Adams, in his head is thinking he is the true captain of this team and the true leader of this team and he is boiling by the remarks. In his head, Tyler Adams doesn’t think he got these men ready, absolutely (Adams thinks it’s on him as a leader).
“It was the 2017 Open Cup final and I am calling the game between Kansas and New York. Here is this Tyler Adams kid, who was 16-years-old, and he’s literally telling his teammates to ‘pick it up’. He is literally telling his teammates ‘you need to be better’. Like in their face and whilst they are down.
“I asked him about it and he said ‘it’s my responsibility, regardless of age to get these guys ready. To know they are up for the moment because they can’t let me and themselves down’. I remember thinking ‘what is this kid on?’ But I loved that mentality, so I know he will feel slighted by it”
ADAMS SHOWCASING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
A future Leeds captain, Adams has been a big positive for Jesse Marsch this season and a player that could more than fill Kalvin Phillips’ boots.
Given that the England international was a boyhood Leeds fan, it’s going to be pretty hard to replicate the relationship ‘the Yorkshire Pirlo’ had with the Elland Road faithful.
But, in terms of quality, Adams can no doubt surpass and become a better player than Phillips during these next 18 months.
Of course, for Phillips, yet another injury and a lack of minutes for Manchester City don’t help his cause, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Adams is seen as the better player down the line.
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