LAS VEGAS — United States interim manager B.J. Callaghan said he likes what he’s seen out of new arrival Folarin Balogun, but declined to say whether the Arsenal forward would start in Thursday’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Mexico.
Balogun, 21, pledged his international future to the U.S. last month, having been also eligible to represent England and Nigeria. Given that he scored 22 goals in 39 league and cup appearances while on loan at Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims this season, expectations are immense that Balogun will provide exactly the goalscoring threat that the U.S. team needs.
And Callaghan indicated that, so far, Balogun had made a strong first impression.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations with him prior to coming into camp, sort of setting the expectations,” Callaghan said about Balogun at Wednesday’s pregame news conference. “I can tell you that he’s been welcomed [with] open arms from the group. He’s integrated himself great into the group on the field.
“I think the things that you see him do at his club that made him have such a great season this season are the same things that we’re seeing him pick up when he comes into our environment. So again, a great first 10 days for him, but I also want to emphasize that it’s just the first days of what we hope is a long national team career for ‘Balo’.”
Callaghan is the second interim manager that has had to step into the U.S. team in the last six months. Anthony Hudson succeeded Gregg Berhalter on an interim basis after Berhalter’s contract wasn’t renewed at the end of 2022.
Hudson managed the U.S. for five games, but then left to take the managerial post with Qatari side Al-Markhiya. Despite the turnover, Callaghan, who has been on the U.S. staff since 2019, hopes the familiarity that exists between him and the team will help carry the side on Thursday.
