​U.S. men’s national team midfielder Malik Tillman believes Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension in the World Cup should not have been overturned. The USMNT’s World Cup journey erupted in controversy ahead of its round-of-16 matchup with Belgium after Balogun’s red card suspension was reversed at the last minute.After receiving a red card in the USA’S 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, Balogun was set to serve an automatic one-game ban in the Belgium match. But President Donald Trump revealed he pushed FIFA president Gianni Infantino to reverse the suspension. Though Infantino insisted the decision was not influenced by Trump, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee made an unusual decision to give Balogun a suspended sentence rather than the typical one-game ban.But even with Balogun in the mix, the USMNT played its worst game of the tournament, falling 4-1 to Belgium in a dismal performance in Seattle.Though Balogun’s importance to the USMNT is undisputed, Tillman still believes the striker should have been forced to sit against Belgium.”Balogun is an important player for us and for the team. In hindsight, though, something like that shouldn’t happen,” Tillman said in an interview with the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “A red card is a red card and should stand. I don’t know who had influence on it. But you shouldn’t get involved in a discussion after a red card suspension and try to change the decision.”Tillman criticizes Bayer LeverkusenTillman is set to embark on his second season with Bayer Leverkusen after an uneven debut campaign.After joining from PSV in a club-record transfer, Tillman managed six goals and one assist in 29 Bundesliga appearances, often struggling to impose himself in the team.Tillman admitted that he found it difficult to work with former head coach Kasper Hjulmand.”I guess I never really settled in,” he said. “I felt comfortable in the team. But it’s fair to say now that things weren’t quite right between the coach and me. Now a new season begins with a new coach – a fresh start.”Hjulmand departed at the end of last season, replaced by Carles Martínez. Asked if he would still be in Leverkusen without the coaching change, Tillman said: “I don’t think so.”Tillman was one of the USMNT’s biggest stars at the World Cup, scoring free-kick goals in both of the team’s knockout round games. But the 24-year-old said that he felt the support from Leverkusen management during the World Cup was lacking.“Communication between me and the management certainly has room for improvement,” Tillman said. “Even during the World Cup, I would have liked a little more support. Nobody has to text or call every day. But every now and then, I would have appreciated one or two more messages.”Tillman has been linked with an exit from Leverkusen after just one season. He would not rule out the possibility but said he wanted to assess how things went under Martínez first.“I’ve come back with the mindset of getting to kn