Gregg Berhalter strongly backs USMNT despite awkwardness after firing: Ready for this moment

IRVINE, Calif.— Last week in Chicago, the day before the U.S.

men’s national team faced Germany, Gregg Berhalter held a news conference.This, for five years, would have been entirely unremarkable.It was unusual here because the former coach of any team, formally answering questions about that team before it trains, is not something that tends to happen.Berhalter took the USMNT to the World Cup in Qatar 3 ½ years ago, and until it flamed out in the group stage of Copa America two summers ago, he was on track to take it to the World Cup that begins this week.

Now he is coaching the Chicago Fire in MLS — which put him in the position of being on hand for training at his team’s facility last Friday — and hosting a podcast, titled “Coaches’ Corner,” with fellow former national team coaches Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley.Yeah, it’s all slightly awkward.“Of course,” Berhalter told The Post on Monday, a few hours before the USMNT opened its World Cup base camp in Irvine, Calif.

“It’s human, right? It’s a human feeling.There’s some awkwardness to it.“I try to say that when you’re part of U.S.

Soccer, no matter what role you play — you get a cap, you coach a team, you play in World Cups, whatever it is — you’re part of U.S.Soccer for life.

And your time isn’t ever guaranteed.Once you make one cap, it doesn’t mean you make your second cap, but you’re still part of the program.

I’m in this journey as part of U.S.Soccer.

It’s a great feeling.My role now is different, but I enjoy it the same.”His connection to the group, obviously, runs deep.

Thirteen players on this roster were part of the 2022 World Cup group under Berhalter.More than that were capped by him before or after the World Cup.

One is his own son, Sebastian, who four years ago was in Qatar as a spectator and now looks ready to take on a key role within this team.Getting to see Sebastian — who was uncapped when his dad was the coach, and who, given the inevi...