Giovanni Reyna says he is determined to “fight for more opportunities” after making his first Borussia Dortmund start in over a year during Wednesday’s Champions League loss to Barcelona.
The 22-year-old’s last Dortmund start came in the DFB-Pokal tie against Hoffenheim on November 1 2023, but he completed 73 minutes at Westfalenstadion in a 3-2 defeat.
Reyna had played just 67 minutes for the Dortmund first team this season before Wednesday, having missed two months of action through injury, but returned to the starting lineup against the La Liga leaders as Dortmund contended with a number of absences in attacking positions.
“I sort of had a feeling (I was going to start) yesterday (Tuesday) and he (Sahin) kind of told me yesterday but today (Wednesday) it was confirmed,” Reyna told Dortmund’s official YouTube channel.
“He really just wanted me to play my game and use my ability on the ball and talents to find the ball in areas and get other guys involved. I feel I did a good job of that tonight. (I’m) just happy to be back out there today and take it, and fight for more opportunities and look to really improve now.”
He continued: “It was great (starting again). Just really happy to be back on the field. It’s obviously where I’m happiest. When Nuri told me that I get the chance to play, obviously I just want to take it and have a good game.
“It really made it easy from the guys around me and the midfielders. It was a really good performance so when the team plays like this it’s much easier to play well. I just really want to keep going at this point.”
Dortmund were beaten 3-2 by Barcelona, with the hosts twice coming from behind before Ferran Torres scored an 85th-minute winner for the Spanish side.
“It’s a weird one,” Reyna said of the performance. “We all feel in the locker room we had a lot of positives and we played a pretty good game. In the end they were very clinical and we made a few mistakes. But there’s a lot of positives from the team and from individual performances so we can’t hang our heads for too long.”
Reyna moved to Dortmund’s academy from New York City in 2019 and broke into the senior side the following year. The USMNT international has made 127 appearances for the club but spent the second half of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, having had his first-team opportunities restricted in Germany.
Dortmund return to action against Hoffenheim on Sunday.
How did Reyna fare on his first start of the season?
Analysis from The Athletic’s German Football Correspondent Seb Stafford-Bloor
Reyna made a strong impression on his return, playing as the centre point in attacking midfield, between Jamie Gittens and Julien Duranville. He lasted 73 minutes but coped well with the speed of Barcelona’s ball circulation.
At times, the pace of the game told on him — as it did on every Dortmund player — but he dug in without the ball, and was used to disrupt the passing channel between Marc Casado and Dani Olmo. His defensive work was good. He scrapped and competed in his own half and, inside the first 30 minutes, a high turnover he forced might have dropped more fortuitously for Guirassy.
Reyna was compelling in possession, too. He sprung a flowing Dortmund attack with a smart diagonal out to Ramy Bensebaini on the left. And, just before half-time, he dug out a fine cross to the back-post which Guirassy really should have scored from — even if he appeared to be offside.
(Sebastian Widmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
