Reyna Lacking Minutes

Despite New Manager, Midfielder Still Out of Starting XI

Gio Reyna's frustrating season at Borussia Dortmund continued. He made another brief cameo appearance in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Bochum. The American midfielder was introduced for the final 10 minutes but was unable to help his side avoid their second consecutive Bundesliga defeat.

The 21-year-old's limited role reflects his ongoing struggles to secure regular playing time under new manager Niko Kovač. In his last five league appearances, Reyna has played just 52 minutes combined—10 against Bochum, five against Stuttgart, three against Heidenheim, three against Frankfurt and 31 against Holstein Kiel, where he scored his second goal of the season. He was an unused substitute in the 3-0 loss to Sporting in the Champions League and the 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen.

His most significant contribution in recent weeks came in the Europa Conference League, where he registered an assist during a 26-minute substitute appearance in the 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on January 29. However, Reyna hasn't started a match since playing 64 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Bologna, highlighting his peripheral role in the squad.

This limited playing time represents a stark contrast from his breakthrough 2020-21 season when he formed part of an exciting attacking quartet alongside Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho. Alexi Lalas recently suggested it might be time for Reyna to look elsewhere, noting that Dortmund's recent managerial change hasn't improved his prospects for regular minutes. With the club currently struggling in 11th place in the Bundesliga, Reyna's path to consistent playing time appears increasingly challenging as he attempts to revive his career at the Signa Iduna Park. His next chance will be on Wednesday when Dortmund host Sporting in the Champions League.