Landon Donovan criticises Jürgen Klinsmann’s tactics
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 3:53 pm
Hmm, methinks Donovan should shut up and let others do the talking for him...
http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... nsmann-usa
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World Cup 2014: Landon Donovan criticises Jürgen Klinsmann’s tactics
• LA Galaxy player claims USA were ‘not set up to succeed’
• Donovan was controversially left out of 23-man squad
• Klinsmann insists: ‘We are heading in the right direction’
Guardian staff
theguardian.com, Thursday 3 July 2014 10.00 EDT
Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan says Jürgen Klinsmann's tactics failed the US in Brazil. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan, who was controversially left out of the USA World Cup squad, has criticised Jürgen Klinsmann’s tactics in Brazil – saying the side were “not set up to succeed”.
Donovan, the former Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich forward, had played in the previous three World Cups, but Klinsmann opted not to include him in his 23-man squad.
At the time, Donovan implied Klinsmann’s decision had been personal rather than about performances, saying: “I firmly believe that not only should I be going, but I feel like I really deserved it.”
Speaking a day after the defeat to Belgium, Donovan told MLS Soccer that the US campaign in Brazil had been “a missed opportunity … The thought of having a game Saturday – the day after the Fourth of July, against Lionel Messi and Argentina, with what was already a swelling audience – would have been incredible.
“I think we’re all disappointed in what happened. I think the most disappointing thing is we didn’t seem like we gave it a real effort, from a tactical standpoint. I thought the guys did everything they could, they did everything that was asked of them, but I don’t think we were set up to succeed, and that was tough to watch.
“It’s a results-oriented business and so, results-wise, you can hold your head high. If you really look at the performances, there were some good performances by guys, some not-so-good performances by guys. [But] as a whole, I think tactically, the team was not set up to succeed.
“They were set up in a way that was opposite from what they’ve been the past couple years, which is opening up, passing, attacking – trying to do that. And the team’s been successful that way. Why they decided to switch that in the World Cup, none of us will know. From a playing standpoint, I think the guys will probably be disappointed in the way things went.”
Donovan acknowledged that “everyone’s an expert when they’re watching at home”, but said he felt Klinsmann’s approach had been wrong. “Hindsight is 20/20, so in hindsight you would say we should’ve been more attacking. Maybe if we had been more attacking, we would have gotten four counterattack goals scored against us. So you never know … But my feeling as a player, if I’m in that locker room before that game – before the Germany game, before the Belgium game – and the coach walked in and said we’re playing a 4-5-1 and Clint [Dempsey] is up top by himself, I would have been disappointed. Because I would have said let’s go for it. I want a chance to go for it and try to win the game.
“Michael Bradley was put in the wrong position. He was put in a position that he’s not used to playing. He does a better job, as you saw with Julian Green’s goal, being in a deeper position. And having someone in a front of him, someone to help Clint also, makes him that much better because he’s got more opportunity to pick out different passes, more attacking options ahead of him. I think that was clearly an error.”
Donovan said he would take his time before deciding whether to push for a return to the national team. “We’ll see. That depends on a lot of conversations that would have to be held.”
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http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... nsmann-usa
The Guardian home
World Cup 2014 badge
World Cup 2014: Landon Donovan criticises Jürgen Klinsmann’s tactics
• LA Galaxy player claims USA were ‘not set up to succeed’
• Donovan was controversially left out of 23-man squad
• Klinsmann insists: ‘We are heading in the right direction’
Guardian staff
theguardian.com, Thursday 3 July 2014 10.00 EDT
Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan says Jürgen Klinsmann's tactics failed the US in Brazil. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan, who was controversially left out of the USA World Cup squad, has criticised Jürgen Klinsmann’s tactics in Brazil – saying the side were “not set up to succeed”.
Donovan, the former Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich forward, had played in the previous three World Cups, but Klinsmann opted not to include him in his 23-man squad.
At the time, Donovan implied Klinsmann’s decision had been personal rather than about performances, saying: “I firmly believe that not only should I be going, but I feel like I really deserved it.”
Speaking a day after the defeat to Belgium, Donovan told MLS Soccer that the US campaign in Brazil had been “a missed opportunity … The thought of having a game Saturday – the day after the Fourth of July, against Lionel Messi and Argentina, with what was already a swelling audience – would have been incredible.
“I think we’re all disappointed in what happened. I think the most disappointing thing is we didn’t seem like we gave it a real effort, from a tactical standpoint. I thought the guys did everything they could, they did everything that was asked of them, but I don’t think we were set up to succeed, and that was tough to watch.
“It’s a results-oriented business and so, results-wise, you can hold your head high. If you really look at the performances, there were some good performances by guys, some not-so-good performances by guys. [But] as a whole, I think tactically, the team was not set up to succeed.
“They were set up in a way that was opposite from what they’ve been the past couple years, which is opening up, passing, attacking – trying to do that. And the team’s been successful that way. Why they decided to switch that in the World Cup, none of us will know. From a playing standpoint, I think the guys will probably be disappointed in the way things went.”
Donovan acknowledged that “everyone’s an expert when they’re watching at home”, but said he felt Klinsmann’s approach had been wrong. “Hindsight is 20/20, so in hindsight you would say we should’ve been more attacking. Maybe if we had been more attacking, we would have gotten four counterattack goals scored against us. So you never know … But my feeling as a player, if I’m in that locker room before that game – before the Germany game, before the Belgium game – and the coach walked in and said we’re playing a 4-5-1 and Clint [Dempsey] is up top by himself, I would have been disappointed. Because I would have said let’s go for it. I want a chance to go for it and try to win the game.
“Michael Bradley was put in the wrong position. He was put in a position that he’s not used to playing. He does a better job, as you saw with Julian Green’s goal, being in a deeper position. And having someone in a front of him, someone to help Clint also, makes him that much better because he’s got more opportunity to pick out different passes, more attacking options ahead of him. I think that was clearly an error.”
Donovan said he would take his time before deciding whether to push for a return to the national team. “We’ll see. That depends on a lot of conversations that would have to be held.”
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