Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber stuck up for his league and his players on Wednesday, tearing into US Soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann for his failure to align himself with the vision of soccer in the US.
That vision - to grow players in a strong, domestic league and work hand-in-hand with the United States Soccer Federation to succeed on the national level - came under fire Monday when Klinsmann criticized the decisions of Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey to return to MLS following stints in Europe.
Calling Klinsmann’s comments “frustrating as hell” and “just plain wrong,” Garber made arguably the strongest stance ever by a league commissioner against a US coach. Stopping short of saying Klinsmann should be fired - that was for US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati to decide - Garber urged Klinsmann to unite himself with the system in place.
[Related: Garber slams Klinsmann’s comments on MLS]
[Related: Klinsmann criticizes MLS, Bradley move]
The presser triggered a number of interesting Tweets from the US Soccer public, with some siding with Garber while others have the back of Klinsmann. Here are some of the best:
You don’t mess with a man like Don Garber and not pay a price. In this case, Klinsmann will leave a fiver on the bar and walk out smiling.
— Ray Ratto (@RattoIndy) October 15, 2014
I’m pretty sure Don Garber is feeling pretty good for having held that call, but I don’t really think that call helped MLS look any better.
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 15, 2014
The "Donovan should have been in Brazil" thing is true, but is it relevant? Davis and Wondo (other #MLS players) got in over him.
— Thomas Floyd (@ThomasFloyd) October 15, 2014
Think Don Garber has been very good for MLS overall. Today's press conference makes him look overly defensive, though. Don't get it.
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) October 15, 2014
Garber, a marketing suit, is picking the wrong fight against Klinsmann, a world-respected soccer legend. The soccer guy wins every time.
— TheSoccerObserver (@SoccerObserver) October 15, 2014
