Dear Guatemala Football Federation,
I would like to personally offer a sincere danke schoen thank you for embarrassing my team Friday night in Guatemala City, beating us 2-0, and thus forcing me to make several changes to our squad. I learned so much from that butt-kicking on your home soil and that is precisely why we were able to beat you 4-0 in Columbus, Ohio Tuesday night. So, again, thank you!
Since this is my second World Cup cycle in charge of the United States Men’s National Team my message seems to be getting a bit old with the players and fans. I keep insisting that the players “challenge themselves” by playing in a variety of positions and trying to make it in Europe’s top leagues.
However, more and more players are ignoring my advice and coming back to play in MLS and we all saw how those different positions worked out for our guys in Guatemala City! DeAndre Yedlin as a midfielder rather than right back like he plays each week for Sunderland? Geoff Cameron as a right back instead of a center back where he usually starts for Stoke City? Tim Howard as a goalkeeper rather than…uh…on the bench?
What was I thinking?! Your team’s performance helped me see the light and return those players to their more comfortable roles for our re-match Tuesday night and that went much better for me!
Believe it or not, after we lost in your capital city American fans were afraid we wouldn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and wanted me fired! Ridiculous, I know. These fans don’t realize how spoiled they are qualifying for the World Cup every four years when we face such tough competition in the CONCACAF region.
I mean, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago…they make life so difficult for the good ol’ US of A. If it were Trinidad OR Tobago, that would be much more manageable. But combining the two is just unfair!
Anyway, thank you again for the much needed wake-up call and making me change my ways. Your effort is much appreciated here in the States.
Auf Wiedersehen,
Jürgen Klinsmann
