Jurgen Klinsmann criticizes the USMNT that is currently being managed by Gregg Berhalter and believes he could’ve made history in the last World Cup.
U.S. men’s national team had a rocky World Cup qualification campaign, they lost their last game and did not make it to Russia 2018. This rocky road that USMNT was going through prior to the end of the qualifying stage, provoked the firing of Jurgen Klinsmann as manager in 2016.
Almost two years after being sacked, Jurgen Klinsmann was interviewed by ESPN and he criticizes USMNT that is currently managed by Gregg Belhater, “They are in their worst moment right now it is very sad to see them play. If they would have allowed me to continue until the end, I would’ve qualified for the World Cup and even made to the semifinals".
He even summarized what he believes has taken the U.S. men’s national team to not be competitive since he left, "There was a plan to qualify to Russia 2018, but that plan got interrupted. It got even more interrupted when we did not qualify for the World Cup. It is really sad because the exact opposite happened to the women’s program, which I am a huge fan of too. Hopefully they get it back on track".
In 2011, Klinsmann was appointed as the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team and even won the Gold Cup in 2013. He also led USMNT to the World Cup in Brazil 2014, making to the round of 16 and made it to the semifinals in Copa America Centenario 2016.
"Under my leadership the USMNT got through the ‘Group of Death’ in Brazil, which nobody expected and many of the players ended up playing in european teams, while others are doing a great job in the MLS", Klinsmann said.
Even though he criticized the current USMNT, Klinsmann sends a message of hope to the current manager, Gregg Belhalter. The german said Belhalter needs to be patient to obtain good results and if he does U.S. men’s national team will return to the top of the CONCACAF.
"I hope they are the top team of the CONCACAF again, also I wish the best of luck to Gregg so he can be the head coach in the next World Cup".