Press Conference: Reynolds faces the media for the first time

Just hours after his signing from MLS side FC Dallas was made official, the 19-year-old full-back answered questions from Italian media about his move to Serie A.

Here is everything Bryan had to say!

Welcome to Roma, Bryan. What are your goals and motivations now you are here?

“Obviously my goal is to make my debut for the club, and then ultimately win championships. I am super excited to be here and for the opportunity that I am getting.”

What are your qualities as a player, and where do you need to improve?

“What I think I am good at is obviously attacking, getting forward. I think one of my strengths is my physique; I’m strong and I’m fast and I like to think I am a pretty good crosser. What I think I need to work on is my defensive abilities and my defensive positioning. I think I am pretty good in duels but I think the most important thing is learning the tactics and the Roma way.”

What was it that made you choose Roma over other clubs?

“Me and my family were happy that there were a lot of clubs interested in me. But I chose Roma because I think it’s the best choice for me. It was the development plan; going straight to the first-team, training every day with them… I think that was going to be the best choice for my development.”

How do you feel physically right now? You recently overcame Covid-19 - could you play at the weekend?

“I overcame Covid and I feel good. I really didn’t feel any symptoms when I did have the virus, I was just in quarantine. But I feel good now, happy and healthy. I will start working with the guys in training tomorrow and then we will see what happens for the Juventus game.”

What point is US football at right now? Weston McKennie has made an impression in Serie A this season, is the time arriving for many more American players to impress in Europe? And if so, why is that?

“The MLS is growing year by year, it’s a good league and a good intermediate team for young talents to go to and to adapt to the professional level. It’s quite hard to adapt to a top-five league, like Serie A or the Premier League, right away, so that is a good place for a lot of young players.

“Weston McKennie has obviously been one of Juventus’ best players this season, he’s really been putting up numbers there. Clubs are starting to sign even young, promising players and I think the secret behind the league growing is that so many young Americans are already playing in Europe now, and I think that is driving the [other] young players to make their dreams come true and pursue a career in Europe."

Do you think you can make some appearances for the side before the end of the current campaign?

“Obviously it will take some time to adapt to such a high level like Serie A and a big club like Roma, but I don’t think I will have a problem with that. It is going to be my objective to make sure I adapt, that will be my focus. My goal is to play for the club and I do believe that I should make at least a few appearances before the end of the season.”

Do you watch much of Italian football, and is there a player in your position that you particularly look up to?

“I try to watch as many games as I can. And obviously Serie A is one of the biggest leagues in the world, so I watch a lot of games here too. As far as players go [Inter Milan player Achraf] Hakimi and [Juventus player Juan] Cuadrado are two that I look up to, because they are so attack-minded as players and that’s what I like to see myself as in that right wing-back role.”

Have you spoken to the coach?

“I have spoken with Paulo Fonseca, and when we spoke he told me he was excited for me to come here and to work with me and I told him that I was excited to have the chance to come here too. He told me that coming here would be the best thing for my development, and I think that is the most important thing for me: my development and adapting to this new league. I am super excited and think I made the best choice.”

How much of an influence did Dan and Ryan Friedkin have on your signing?

“I did speak with Ryan Friedkin and we are both from Texas, so that’s nice, so maybe that will make adapting a little bit easier than any other club. But as I said, the main reason was the development plan: that I can be here training every day with the first team. My goal is to give everything I have while I am here, giving my best for the club, and I want to make appearances as soon as possible for the team.”

What have these first few hours been like in Rome?

“My first impressions were super high. Coming from the MLS, which is good, when you get to a big club like Roma and you see the locker room and the training facilities, I was in complete awe. It’s crazy that I am here now. It’s great to train for the first time on such beautiful pitches.

"Seeing the Stadio Olimpico for the first time is a little bit overwhelming, you know, but I am just super happy.”

You watched the game yesterday – what struck you most?

“Luckily enough I was able to watch the game yesterday against Verona. Scoring three goals in any match is obviously big, but the thing I like the most is that they are trying to dominate the game, dominate the ball and make quick transitions and win the ball back quickly when they lose it. I think that’s what struck me most about the game yesterday.”