SANDY, Utah — US men's national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has a job to do, and he doesn't want anything to get in the way of making sure his team is as well-prepared as possible for the 2014 World Cup.
On hand at Rio Tinto Stadium for the US Open Cup final between Real Salt Lake and D.C. United, Klinsmann took the opportunity to address the media regarding his plans for the USMNT's final two World Cup qualifiers – Oct. 11 vs. Jamaica in Kansas City and Oct. 15 at Panama.
Though the US have already qualified, rendering the last two games moot as far as getting to Brazil is concerned, Klinsmann's interest remains solely on his US side despite knowing that the MLS regular season is winding down and many of his players are helping their teams fight for the Supporters' Shield and making a push for the playoffs.
"It is absolutely no issue for us," said Klinsmann. "We see the busy schedule MLS is going through, but it makes no difference. This is World Cup qualifying. We want to end it on a very high note. We are going to call in the guys we believe in."
For MLS teams with players that may get called in to camp beginning on Sunday, that may not be what the clubs want to hear. The Seattle Sounders could be hit the hardest, with potentially up to three players being called away in Brad Evans, Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey – the latter of whom Klinsmann says he expects in camp despite recent injury troubles – and the Sounders scheduled to play their rivals from Portland on Sunday, Oct. 13.
The LA Galaxy could also be hurt with a game on Wednesday, Oct. 16, and Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez likely to be traveling back from the US game in Panama one night prior.
Klinsmann did hint, however, that there could be a few changes made even between the two games depending on what happens in Kansas City against Jamaica.
"There are a lot of question marks, because I think like eight or nine guys on yellows still, and injuries happen," he said, "so it might force you into some changes after the first game against Jamaica. If that is going to be the case, we make those changes, but we are not looking at the MLS schedule. We have to get our own job done."
