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USMNT's Klinsmann Denies Criticizing MLS, Claims Garber Misunderstood Him

U.S. men's national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Thursday said that he "was not criticizing or disparaging" MLS by "expressing regret that key players Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley had switched to the MLS from two of Europe's top clubs," according to Erik Kirschbaum of REUTERS. Klinsmann in response to MLS Commissioner Don Garber's statements said that he "welcomed a growing culture of impassioned debate over soccer issues in the United States such as the one that erupted this week over his comments" and added that MLS "had improved a lot in recent years and was clearly on the rise." Klinsmann said that he "simply wanted to see the best American players compete in the pressure-packed atmosphere of the world’s best leagues in Europe to be ready for the challenges" of the '18 FIFA World Cup. Klinsmann: "It’s great to see that we have debates and public discussions like this because that shows that more and more people care about soccer in this country. In Europe, in South America and in Mexico we’re all used to this. ... It’s just starting now in the United States and I think it’s pretty cool." Klinsmann: "I never meant to put anyone down in the MLS by saying we need the highest level possible for our players no matter where they play. It was just an attempt to explain that players need to always strive to the highest possible level." Klinsmann believes that Garber "misunderstood him." Klinsmann: "I’d simply respond to Don that it’s just not the case and I would never criticize the MLS or the clubs." Klinsmann said that the "continued positive development of the MLS could play an important role in the development of U.S. soccer" (REUTERS, 10/16).

WORK TO BE DONE: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said of the feud between Garber and Klinsmann, "First of all, nobody knows who Don Garber is. ... Next to Klinsmann he is a frog next to an elephant, so this is ridiculous. The fact of the matter is that the MLS is nothing internationally. It's not the NBA, it's not the NHL. You find that in Europe." Kornheiser said, "Most of the time when players are done somewhere else, they find their way to the MLS. Jurgen Klinsmann is here to win a World Cup. It has nothing to do with the MLS" ("PTI," ESPN, 10/16).

GOOD DIALOGUE: ESPN's Taylor Twellman and Alexi Lalas discussed the Klinsmann-Garber debate during halftime of the Revolution-Dynamo game on Thursday night. Lalas said Garber's "hastily arranged" press conference was a "gift from the media gods." Lalas noted Garber did some "good" things at the presser and  some "bad" things. On the negative side, Lalas said Garber should not "take a problem and draw more attention to it if it's just going to go away quickly on its own. No. 2: This insecurity and this inferiority complex that the MLS has makes you look overly sensitive and defensive and No. 3, he kind of overstepped his authority when he said somehow that Jurgen Klinsmann has a responsibility to MLS. Jurgen's principal responsibility is to get the national team to progress and to win." Lalas said on the positive side, "sometimes in order to effect change you have to do something big, bold and yes, maybe you have to be confrontational." In addition, "you have to counter that perception out there that MLS is a lower level and you've got to do it on a consistent basis." Lalas also commended Garber, saying that he wants an MLS leader "with passion." Lalas: "Don Garber was raw, but he was also human. It is personal, and sometimes I think it’s important to remind people that it's personal." But Twellman said Garber "lost the plot a little bit" with his comments on Klinsmann's treatment of F Landon Donovan and not including him on the '14 U.S. World Cup team. Twellman said that move did not have "anything to do" with MLS. Twellman added, "Jurgen Klinsmann is not the first national team head coach to question Major League Soccer." But Twellman said it is "good we're having this discussion," because it "means the sport is here and it's here to stay." Lalas said Klinsmann has "asked questions that either we don’t want to answer or haven't heard before and it is important. This type of dialogue ... is good for the game." Twellman: "I love this discussion because I'm tired of hearing about, 'soccer's growing'" ("Revolution-Dynamo," ESPN2, 10/16).

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